New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition requesting the withdrawal of all criminal cases against painter M F Husain, who has dozens of lawsuits against him across the country for his paintings of goddesses that some Hindus find sacrilegious.
A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan refused to entertain a petition requesting the court to direct the government to withdraw all criminal cases against Husain, 95, so that he could return to India.
"If he is in Doha, what is the problem," the court said while asking the petitioner to withdraw his plea.
"The prayer made in the petition cannot be granted," it said.
The apex court said it cannot direct the Central government to withdraw the cases, as they were filed by private individuals.
It was hearing a petition filed by Jammu and Kashmir Panthers Party Chief Bhim Singh, who wanted the court should ask Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take steps to bring Husain back to India.
Singh claimed Husain's fundamental rights had been violated, as he was unable to return to India due the 900-odd cases slapped against him.
Husain has been living abroad as a fugitive since 2006 and accepted Qatar citizenship this year. In an interview to CNN-IBN in March, he said Indian politicians must learn to understand and appreciate culture in a nation's identity.
“The politician also must be aware that what is culture because any nation's identity is through culture, not how much economy or political power you have,” he said.
Husain had to leave India in 2006 as he has been the target of right-wing groups for his nude painting of Hindu Goddesses and has been lacking government backing.
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