CHANDIGARH: The trial of a case, where a Muslim trader from Uttar Pradesh was slapped by right-wing activists outside Hisar mosque last year in July for not chanting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” has not started as yet due to lack of sanction from the Haryana government for prosecution.

As the charges include Section 295-A (hurting religious feelings), permission under 196 CrPC is required from the Haryana home department, headed by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar, for prosecution.

A case was registered against some right-wing activists on July 11, 2017 and the Hisar prosecution agency had written to the home department for sanction on August 19.

The matter came up for hearing before the trial court in Hisar on July 17, 2018, where the judicial magistrate (first class) expressed surprise over delay in sanction for prosecution and directed the prosecution agency to send a reminder to the Khattar government. The next hearing has now been fixed for September 11.

“The delay is unprecedented because normally such sanction is received within 3-4 months. The trial of the case has not commenced for want of sanction,” Vikram Mittal, counsel for the complainant told TOI.

