New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain petitions seeking an FIR against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for alleged hate speech targeting Muslims, directing petitioners to approach the Gauhati High Court instead, Bar and Bench reported.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant instructed the High Court to hear the matter on priority, rejecting requests to transfer it elsewhere and warning against “convenience forum shopping.” The bench emphasized that High Courts are constitutional entities ensuring access to justice, urging respect for their sanctity.
The petitions, filed by CPI(M) and CPI leader Annie Raja, cited Sarma’s recent remarks against Bengali-origin Muslims—derisively called “Miyas” in Assam, a term originally pejorative but now reappropriated by the community—as well as a now-deleted BJP Assam social media video showing Sarma symbolically firing at images of two Muslim men.
Sarma has repeatedly targeted “Miyas,” accused of being undocumented Bangladeshi migrants, declaring it his job to “make them suffer” and predicting deletions from voter lists. Petitioners highlighted statements from 2021 to February 2026 calling for their social, economic, and civic exclusion—limiting livelihoods, transport, land, and voting rights—alleging real-world discrimination justified by his words.
CPI(M) and Raja sought a Supreme Court-monitored Special Investigation Team, arguing state and central agencies lack impartiality, and claimed Sarma violated his constitutional oath to uphold sovereignty, integrity, fraternity, and equality.