India, March 4 -- The Supreme Court has held that using terms like "Miyan-Tiyan" or "Pakistani" may be in poor taste but does not make out a criminal offence that can penalise acts intended to wound religious sentiments. The ruling came while quashing a criminal case against an 80-year-old man accused of making such remarks.

"The appellant is accused of hurting the religious feelings of the informant by calling him 'Miyan-Tiyan' and 'Pakistani'. Undoubtedly, the statements made are poor taste. However, it does not amount to hurting the religious sentiments of the informant," noted a bench comprising justices BV Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma.

The case originated from a first information report (FIR) registered as Bokaro in Jharkha...