JUDGMENT :

Abhay S. Oka, J.

FACTUAL ASPECTS

1. A First Information Report (for short, ‘the impugned FIR’) was registered against the appellant for the offence punishable under Section 153-A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short, ‘the IPC’). The appellant filed a writ petition before the High Court of Judicature at Bombay for quashing the FIR. By the impugned judgment dated 10th April 2023, the High Court has dismissed the writ petition.

2. The appellant was a Professor at Sanjay Ghodawat College in District Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He came to Kolhapur for employment. Earlier, he was a permanent resident of District Baramulla, Kashmir. The appellant was a member of a WhatsApp group. The allegation of commission of offence is based on what was seen on his WhatsApp status. The State Government has set out the precise text appearing on the WhatsApp status of the appellant in its counter affidavit. Clauses (c) and (d) of paragraph 3 of the counter affidavit read thus:

“3. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

a. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

b. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..

c. During the incident, the Petitioner was employed as a Professor at Sanjay Ghodavat College. The Petitioner was a me