India, July 19 -- Merely sheltering individuals in a mosque without knowledge of orders prohibiting meetings, gatherings and processions does not amount to disobeying orders issued by public authorities, the Delhi High Court has held, while quashing 16 cases registered against 70 Indians for allegedly sheltering foreign attendees of the Tablighi Jamaat congregation during the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown.

A bench of justice Neena Bansal Krishna gave the detailed ruling, released on Friday, while dealing with the pleas filed by the accused seeking quashing of the FIR's registered by the Delhi Police.

"It is also significant to note that merely because they were living in a Markaz, did not amount to violation of any of the five activities, whic...