Madras HC raps evangelist for extreme views – Times of India

Chennai News

The Madras high court has quashed criminal proceedings against an evangelist, Mohan C Lazarus, but not without disapproving of his extreme religious views that could incite hatred, violence and bloodshed.

CHENNAI: The Madras high court has quashed criminal proceedings against an evangelist, Mohan C Lazarus, but not without disapproving of his extreme religious views that could incite hatred, violence and bloodshed.
Justice N Anand Venkatesh, concurring with the submissions of senior counsel Isaac Mohanlal and accepting an unconditional apology tendered by Lazarus, said: “This court holds a strong view that individuals capable of influencing large sections of the society that is driven by its religious sentiments need to be extremely cautious and conscientious in exercising their rights, be it one of expression, religion or any other right.”
The judge further said: “We, as a society, have fallen and are falling into the hands of misconceptions and extremities in the name of securing and practising our respective religious beliefs. These extremities have always known to incite hatred, violence, bloodshed and bitterness across history.”
Mohan C Lazarus, founder of Jesus Redeems, faced multiple FIRs for making derogatory statements against Hinduism at an indoor gathering in Chennai on March 18, 2016. After the video went viral on social media, he approached the high court to quash the FIRs.
When the plea was taken up for final hearing on Friday, senior counsel Issac Mohanlal filed an affidavit on behalf of Lazarus tendering unconditional apology. He further assured the court that such an instance will not happen anymore.
Recording the undertaking, Justice Anand Venkatesh cited the Sermon on the Mount, and said: “Words of Jesus Christ clearly go on to reveal that the religion or its ideals do not intend to, under any circumstances, incite its followers to judge or demean another religion for the purpose of its own growth and propagation.”
The judge further added that this court would not hesitate to say it is in fact, the fundamental duty cast upon every citizen to preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture and that such heritage and culture cannot be, at any circumstance, seen as one independent of the religious, cultural and civilizational sentiments that have been rooted, ingrained and etched in the history, soul and spirit of this nation.
It cannot be at the cost of injuring the sentiments and rights of other fellow citizens who also form a constituent part of the rich culture and value system that our nation embodies, the court said.

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Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/hc-raps-evangelist-for-extreme-views/articleshow/80713734.cms