The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a Public
Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against the Dalai Lama, following an incident
where the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people was seen kissing a child on
the lips. The court concluded that the Dalai Lama's actions were playful and
not intended to harm the child, noting that he had already apologised for the
incident.
The controversy began when a video clip from April
2023 went viral, showing the Dalai Lama kissing a boy on the lips and asking
him to suck his tongue. This sparked significant debate and outrage on social
media.
A confederation of NGOs and Jeroninio Almeida filed
the PIL, citing concerns over child safety and calling for action under the
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
A
bench led by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan, alongside Justice Tushar Rao
Gedela, reviewed the case and the video in question. The court observed that
the incident occurred in full public view and was not premeditated. The judges
noted that the boy had expressed a desire to meet and hug the Dalai Lama, and
the Dalai Lama was being playful and trying to humour the child within the
context of Tibetan culture.
The
court acknowledged the apology issued by the Dalai Lama on April 10, 2023,
which addressed those who might have been offended by the incident. The judges
also considered the socio-political context, noting that the Dalai Lama’s
position as a religious leader not on good terms with a foreign power should be
considered in evaluating the petition.
The
High Court ruled that there was no need for further legal action, as the Dalai
Lama had already apologised and the incident did not warrant classification as
a predatory act. The judges stated that anyone personally aggrieved by the
incident could pursue appropriate legal action independently. However, they
found no public interest in the petition itself and dismissed it.