The atmosphere in Court No. 4 of the Allahabad High Court's Lucknow Bench was unusually tense on Tuesday morning. The two-judge bench, comprising Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Prashant Kumar, turned its attention to an unexpected question: How is Sant Rampal, locked up in Hisar Central Jail, still managing to write and distribute books that allegedly insult Hindu gods and goddesses?
The matter came up during the hearing of a public interest litigation filed by the Hindu Front for Justice. The organization alleged that Rampal’s publications - Jeene Ki Raah, Gyaan Ganga, Garima Geeta Ki, and Andh Shraddha Bhakti – Khatra-e-Jaan - contain "provocative and indecent portrayals" of Hindu deities. According to the petition, these books, circulated free of cost through various channels, mock Sanatan Dharma and are "intended to outrage the religious feelings of Hindus."
Advocate Ranjana Agnihotri, representing the petitioners, told the court that despite several representations and reminders to the authorities, no effective action was taken. The plea also accused Rampal’s followers of using online platforms to promote disharmony and spread hate among communities.
"The State machinery seems to be asleep while this literature spreads poison across social and digital spaces," she said.
The bench wasn't pleased with the government’s previous response either. The judges noted that an earlier affidavit filed by the State was incomplete and did not clarify whether any action had been initiated to seize the offending publications or block their online presence.
The bench observed, "The affidavit filed before us lacks necessary details and cannot be accepted as compliance. The matter demands full transparency."
The court went further and asked the Jailer of Hisar Central Jail to personally explain how Rampal, a convict under judicial custody, could continue publishing from within prison walls. Justice Saraf remarked that such activity, if proven, raises serious questions about prison oversight and accountability.
The bench has now ordered that a supplementary affidavit, signed by an officer not below the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, be filed before October 28, 2025, detailing all steps taken to locate and seize the books and remove the content from websites, including X Corp. and Google LLC. The Jailer of Hisar Central Jail has been made Respondent No. 13 in the case.
The matter will next be heard on November 4, 2025. Until then, the State has been directed to act swiftly in ensuring that no further circulation or online sharing of such material continues.