India: In a significant ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday granted regular bail to Ameen, a Panchkula resident arrested for allegedly raising the slogan “Pakistan Zindabad” during heightened India-Pakistan tensions in May this year.
A single bench observed that whether the alleged act attracts Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — which punishes acts endangering the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India — is a matter to be decided during trial and cannot be a ground to deny bail at this stage.
Ameen was arrested on May 10, 2025, following an FIR registered at Pinjore police station under Sections 152 and 197-D (promoting enmity prejudicial to national integration) of the BNS. The complainant had alleged that the slogan was raised amid the India-Pakistan conflict, terming it an act of treason.
Having spent over six months in judicial custody, the petitioner approached the High Court seeking regular bail.
The court noted that mere shouting of slogans, without any evidence of incitement to violence or public disorder, does not automatically constitute an offence under the stringent provisions. It cited the Supreme Court’s landmark 1995 judgment in Balwant Singh vs State of Punjab, which held that casual raising of slogans does not amount to sedition unless it leads to actual disturbance of law and order.
Senior Deputy Advocate General Diya Sodhi, appearing for the State of Haryana, opposed the bail plea, arguing national security concerns. However, the bench ruled that prolonged incarceration pending trial violated the accused’s fundamental right to liberty, especially when there was no risk of absconding or tampering with evidence.
