Uttam Nagar Holi Clash: PIL In Delhi High Court Seeks To Prevent Communal Violence Ahead Of Eid

A public interest litigation has been filed before the Delhi High Court seeking urgent intervention to prevent communal violence and curb alleged hate speech incidents in city's Uttam Nagar area ahead of the upcoming Eid festival, in the wake of killing of a 26-year-old man in a clash there on Holi.

The plea has been filed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) seeking urgent directions on the State and police authorities for alleged failure to act against escalating communal tensions.

The matter was mentioned today morning before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya.

Senior Advocate Nitya Ramakrishna made the mentioning and said that some residents of the area were apprehending threats in and around the Eid festival.

She said that there was fear of serious violence during Eid and that meetings were being gathered on social media with messages saying “khoon ki holi Eid pe khelenge.”

The Court had then agreed to list the matter today, subject to removal of objections in the petition. However, the case has not been listed as of now.

The plea states that while the incident was local in nature, it has later been widely communalized through coordinated dissemination of inflammatory content, mobilization of crowds, and organization of protests and public gatherings.

As per APCR, multiple rallies and assemblies, including “Akrosh Sabhas”, were organized after the incident in various parts of the national capital, including Uttam Nagar, wherein highly provocative and inflammatory speeches were delivered openly “inciting violence against members of the Muslim community.”

“Slogans advocating extrajudicial killings, economic boycott, and social exclusion have been raised, creating an atmosphere of fear, hostility, and imminent threat to life and property. Many of these hate speeches are specifically targeting the festival of Eid, which is to be celebrated on 20 or 21 March 2026, and explicitly advocating that Muslims in Uttam Nagar will be prevented from celebrating the Eid festival,” the plea states.

”It is further submitted that such hate speech and incitement have not remained confined to rhetoric but have manifested in acts of violence, vandalism, arson, mob assaults, and forced economic shutdowns. Several Muslim-owned shops in the locality have remained closed due to fear of violence, and reports indicate that families have been compelled to temporarily leave their homes due to apprehension of targeted violence,” it adds.

APCR has said that the situation is further aggravated by the fear that there will be disruptions to the peaceful observance of Eid, both by vigilante groups and also by the police. 

As per the petition, there are credible apprehensions of further escalation of communal tensions and targeted violence, in light of ongoing calls for disruption and retaliation.

“The Petitioner submit that they have already addressed a detailed representation dated 15.03.2026 to the concerned police and administrative authorities, highlighting the urgency of the situation and seeking preventive and remedial action. However, no effective steps have been taken till date,” the petition has submitted.

The plea seeks a direction on the authorities to take preventive steps to avert communal violence, register FIRs against alleged hate speeches, enhance security in sensitive areas, including Eidgahs, ensure peaceful observance of Eid without restrictions and to take action against individuals and groups inciting violence.

On March 04, a 26-year-old man named Tarun was killed in a clash that broke out between his family and neighbours in the JJ Colony.

According to the Delhi Police, the violence started after water from a balloon thrown by a girl from Tarun's family splashed on a woman from the neighbour's family during Holi celebrations.

The Police has so far arrested 14 people and apprehended two minors in connection with the case.

Title: ASSOCIATION FOR PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS (APCR) v. STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ORS