Indian court orders Muslim man to clean Hindu temple as bail condition
Man arrested over social media video on Hindu chariot must sweep temple grounds daily until investigation ends, prompting debate over judicial neutrality
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — An Indian court has ordered a Muslim man accused of offending Hindu religious sentiments to clean the grounds of a Hindu temple every day as a condition of his bail, an unusual judicial directive that has sparked debate over the role of religion in criminal proceedings.
The order was issued by an additional chief judicial magistrate in Purba Bardhaman district in the eastern state of West Bengal, where Babulal Sheikh was arrested after a video circulated on social media showing him climbing onto a parked Rath, or ceremonial Hindu chariot, while wearing shoes and recording a video.
According to the digital news outlet Maktoob Media, police charged Sheikh under provisions of India’s new penal code that criminalize promoting enmity between communities and deliberate acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
He was arrested following a police complaint filed by members of a local Hindu religious committee.
The court granted Sheikh bail but directed him to clean the temple premises and the adjoining road every day until the police investigation is completed. The order also requires him to report to the investigating officer once a week and cooperate with the investigation.
Local media reports said the court additionally instructed Sheikh to wash the steps of the ceremonial chariot for one week in the presence of police officers, although the written bail conditions primarily require him to keep the temple premises clean throughout the investigation.
During the bail hearing, Sheikh’s lawyer argued that police failed to follow mandatory legal procedures before arresting him in a case carrying a relatively limited maximum sentence.
The defense also told the court there was no evidence that the incident had caused communal unrest or that Sheikh had intended to insult Hinduism.
While being escorted to court, Sheikh apologized for his actions.
The bail order has drawn attention because it requires a member of India’s Muslim minority to perform service at a Hindu place of worship as part of the conditions for his release. The directive has fueled debate over whether courts should impose religiously linked conditions in criminal cases.
Ushasi, a leader of the Student Federation of India (SFI) in East Bardhaman, said that the order runs contrary to Bengal’s long tradition of shared participation in religious festivals.
“Across Bengal, it is still very common for people to participate in each other’s festivals, whether religious or otherwise. The RSS-BJP are trying to make this abnormal,” she said, adding that Muslims have historically participated in and, in some places, even organized Ulto Rath Yatra celebrations.
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