Manipur : Supreme Court To Hear On July 31 Prof Kham Khan Suan Hausing's Plea Challenging Summons Over Statements Against Meiteis

The Supreme Court has rescheduled to July 31, 2023, the hearing of Professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing's plea challenging the summons issued against him by a Manipur Court. The summons was in connection with his alleged defamation of the Metei community during an interview with 'The Wire.'

Originally slated for today (July 28, 2023), the matter was supposed to be heard by the bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. However, due to the Chief Justice's absence, the hearing could not take place as planned. Senior Advocate Anand Grover, who was representing Prof. Hausing, swiftly approached the bench comprising Justice SK Kaul and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia, seeking an urgent listing of the matter.

Grover conveyed to the bench, "The matter was kept today by the Chief Justice after listing and after mentioning. Unfortunately, this is the petition by the professor in Hyderabad from Manipur, and he had to report today... There is an identical matter where there is an order... Either your Lordship may take it today or keep it on Monday before the Chief Justice."

The bench stated that the matter will come up on Monday. 

Professor Kham Khan Suan Hausing, who serves as the Head of the Department for Political Science at the University of Hyderabad, found himself in legal trouble after he was issued a summons notice by the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal East, on July 6, 2023. He stands accused of defaming the Metei community during an interview with journalist Karan Thapar on 'The Wire.' As a result, he is facing charges under Sections 153A (promoting enmity on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, or language), 200 (knowingly declaring something false), 295(A) (deliberate acts to outrage religious feeling), 298 (verbally outraging religious feelings), 505(1), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.

The charges against Hausing were filed by Manihar Moirangthem Singh, a member of the Meitei Tribe Union, who alleged that the professor made false statements to defame the Meitei community, leading to heightened communal enmity.

Case Title: Kham Khan Suan Hausing v. The State Of Manipur And Ors. W.P.(Crl.) No. 311/2023 PIL-W