The Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, led by Justice Vishal Mishra, rejected a petition filed by one Maruf Ahmad Khan, who sought judicial intervention to prevent the media from using the term ‘Love Jihad’, which he alleged spreads false narratives and promotes religious disharmony.
The petition, filed under Article 226 of the Constitution, was in the nature of a writ of mandamus, urging the court to direct authorities to take action against what the petitioner described as “fake and misleading” news concerning the Muslim community. He alleged that such reporting leads to communal tension and exploits Muslims by painting them in a negative light, especially in cases involving interfaith relationships.
Khan argued that the widespread use of the term ‘Love Jihad’ in media reports was not only factually incorrect but also deeply derogatory, contributing to the vilification of Muslim men and hurting the religious sentiments of the community.
However, Justice Vishal Mishra, while refusing to entertain the plea, observed that the nature of the relief sought and the content of the petition clearly indicated that it was, in essence, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The judge held that a writ of mandamus cannot be issued in such cases, especially when personal grievances are masked as public interest concerns.
“In view of the nature of relief which has been claimed in the writ petition coupled with the averments made in the complaint, it is clear that the petition is in the nature of a Public Interest Litigation for which mandamus cannot be issued. Under these circumstances, this Court refrains from entertaining the writ petition,” the court ruled.
Instead, the bench directed the petitioner to pursue alternative legal remedies, such as approaching the Magistrate under Section 156(3) of the CrPC or Section 175 of the BNSS, or filing a private complaint under Section 200 of the CrPC or Section 223 of the BNSS.
The decision comes at a time when debates over the term ‘Love Jihad’—used by media to describe alleged cases of Muslim men luring Hindu women into conversion through marriage—continue to evoke sharp political and social reactions across the country.
