Chhattisgarh HC rejects GGV professor’s plea to quash FIR and charge sheet in Bilaspur NSS namaz controversy case

April 19, 2026 : The High Court of Chhattisgarh has dismissed a petition filed by a professor of Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya seeking quashing of an FIR and charge sheet in connection with an alleged “namaz controversy” during an NSS camp.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal declined to interfere in the matter, observing that since the charge sheet has already been filed, judicial intervention at this stage is not warranted.

The case stems from an incident in March 2025 during a National Service Scheme (NSS) camp held in Kota. Allegations were made that on the occasion of Eid, some Muslim students were called onto a stage and asked to offer namaz, while other students were allegedly pressured to participate. It was further claimed that students who opposed the act were threatened with cancellation of their certificates.

Following the incident, complaints were lodged by affected students at Koni police station. The police subsequently registered a case against Professor Dilip Jha and several other faculty members. The accused were booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act.

The petitioner had approached the High Court seeking quashing of both the FIR and the subsequent charge sheet, arguing that the allegations were unfounded. However, the court held that once the charge sheet is filed, the matter should proceed through the appropriate trial process.

The incident had triggered protests by students at the university, bringing attention to concerns over coercion and religious freedom within educational institutions.

With the High Court refusing relief, the case will now proceed before the trial court in accordance with law.