Delhi Court Issues Notice to Assam CM Over Controversial Remarks

A Delhi court has issued a notice to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in response to a petition from activist Harsh Mander. The petition seeks to register an FIR against Sarma for his controversial remarks about 'Miya Muslims'. The court's decision follows a previous dismissal by a magisterial court and highlights ongoing tensions surrounding electoral issues in Assam. Mander's claims include accusations that Sarma incited hostility against the community. The court has scheduled a response for July 15, 2026, as the legal proceedings continue to unfold.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 28, 2026, 16:12 IST

Court Action Against Himanta Biswa Sarma

File image of CM Sarma. (Photo:@himantabiswa/X)

New Delhi, May 28: A notice has been issued by a Delhi court to Himanta Biswa Sarma following a petition from activist Harsh Mander, who is seeking the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against the Assam Chief Minister for his "provocative" comments regarding "Miya Muslims".

During the hearing of Mander's revision petition, Additional Sessions Judge Sonu Agnihotri directed that a notice be sent to Sarma. This comes after a magisterial court had previously declined to file an FIR against the BJP leader on April 20.

In a ruling dated May 26, the court acknowledged the submissions made by Mander's counsel, who referenced the Ministry of Home Affairs' standard operating procedure (SOP) for Zero FIR and E-FIR. The court has scheduled a response from the respondents for July 15, 2026.

Mander's application, submitted in April, accused Sarma of making a communally charged statement during an event in Digboi, Tinsukia district, on January 27. The plea claims Sarma stated that "four to five lakh Miya voters" would be excluded from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Assam.

The term 'Miya' is often used derogatorily to refer to Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam, with many non-Bengali speakers labeling them as Bangladeshi immigrants. Recently, some activists from this community have begun to reclaim the term as a form of resistance.

Mander's petition further alleges that Sarma incited hostility against 'Miyas' by suggesting that "only if they face troubles will they leave Assam" and that "we are ensuring that they cannot vote in Assam".

In court, Mander's counsel argued that the trial court incorrectly dismissed the application due to a supposed lack of territorial jurisdiction. They contended that information regarding a cognizable offense can be reported to any police station, regardless of where the offense occurred, citing the Zero FIR principle.

The court has taken note of these arguments and has issued a notice for the revision petition to the respondents.