Dignity Prevails: MP High Court Orders Police to Prevent Sonam Raghuvanshi Effigy Burning on Dussehra

In a landmark directive upholding individual dignity and public order, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued strict instructions to police authorities across three districts to ensure that no effigies of litigant Sonam Raghuvanshi are burnt during the upcoming Dussehra festival. The ruling comes as a significant intervention, underscoring the judiciary's role in protecting citizens from public humiliation and potential unrest.

A single bench comprising Justice Sanjay Dwivedi delivered the crucial order in response to a petition filed by Sonam Raghuvanshi herself.

Raghuvanshi's petition highlighted threats from various organizations, including the Sakal Hindu Samaj and Jai Maa Narmada Sena, which had allegedly declared intentions to burn her effigies on Dussehra. These organizations reportedly harbored grievances against Raghuvanshi due to her previous public interest litigations (PILs) targeting illegal constructions and encroachers, which had evidently stirred considerable local controversy.

The court’s decision is rooted in a fundamental understanding of human rights and the potential for such acts to incite public disorder.

Justice Dwivedi emphatically stated that burning an effigy of any person constitutes a profound insult to human dignity. Such acts, particularly during a prominent festival like Dussehra—traditionally a celebration of the triumph of good over evil by burning Ravana’s effigy—can be seen as a direct affront and a potential trigger for social tension rather than a legitimate form of protest.

The directive specifically mandates the Superintendent of Police and Collectors of Jabalpur, Seoni, and Narsinghpur districts to take all necessary preventive actions.

This includes maintaining vigilance and deploying appropriate measures to avert any attempts at public effigy burning targeting Sonam Raghuvanshi. The court's order serves as a clear message that while peaceful protest is a democratic right, acts that demean individuals and potentially disrupt peace will not be tolerated, especially when they cross the line into personal attacks and incitement.

This ruling is particularly timely as Dussehra approaches, a period when communities gather in large numbers.

By pre-emptively addressing the threats, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has not only protected an individual's right to dignity but also reinforced the importance of responsible public conduct and the maintenance of peace during festive occasions. The case sets a precedent for how courts can intervene to safeguard individuals against targeted public humiliation and prevent the escalation of local disputes into larger law and order issues.