Supreme Court Stays Proceedings Against Catholic Priest in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi, April 10, 2026: The Supreme Court of India on Friday stayed the criminal proceedings against Fr. Vineet, a Catholic priest booked under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during prayer meetings.

A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government while hearing a plea filed by the priest, whose full name is reported as Vineet Vincent Pereira. The Court ordered that the trial proceedings remain stayed until further consideration of the case.

The case stems from a First Information Report (FIR) alleging that Fr. Vineet, during prayer gatherings, repeatedly stated that “there is only one religion which is Christian,” a claim that reportedly offended members of another religious community. He was subsequently booked under Section 295A, which deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.

Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had dismissed the priest’s plea challenging the proceedings on March 18, 2026. The High Court observed that claiming one religion as the “only true religion” could imply disparagement of other faiths, particularly in a secular country like India where people of diverse beliefs coexist.

At the same time, the High Court clarified that at the stage of cognisance, the court’s role is limited to determining whether a prima facie case exists, based on available material, and not to examine the merits of the evidence in detail.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Fr. Vineet, argued that the case was filed to harass his client and that the allegations in the FIR did not constitute an offence under Section 295A IPC. He further contended that the Magistrate took cognisance of the chargesheet without proper judicial application of mind and in the absence of adequate supporting evidence.

The Supreme Court’s intervention now pauses the trial, offering interim relief to Fr. Vineet while the matter remains under judicial scrutiny. The case continues to be legally sensitive, raising broader questions on the balance between freedom of religious expression and the protection of communal harmony.

By Catholic Connect Reporter