India Removes Ban on Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses Following Court's Declaration of Ban Order as 'Untraceable'
Delhi High Court overturns the 1988 import ban as the government cannot present official evidence, bringing an end to the long-standing controversy over the novel.
India has ended the thirty-year ban on Salman Rushdie's controversial book, The Satanic Verses. On Tuesday, the Delhi High Court determined that the government could not provide an official record of the original order banning the book's import, deeming the notification "untraceable."
The case was initiated by reader Sandipan Khan, who had difficulty finding evidence of the ban on government websites after being informed that the novel could neither be sold nor imported into India. Despite searching for official documents, Khan found no proof of the ban's existence.
In its decision, the court declared, "We have no other option except to presume that no such notification exists," highlighting that even the customs official supposedly responsible for issuing the ban was unable to provide a copy.
Published in 1988, The Satanic Verses generated immediate controversy, especially within Muslim communities, due to its depiction of Prophet Muhammad. The book was banned in several countries, but this recent decision in India marks the end of its longstanding import restriction.
The case was initiated by reader Sandipan Khan, who had difficulty finding evidence of the ban on government websites after being informed that the novel could neither be sold nor imported into India. Despite searching for official documents, Khan found no proof of the ban's existence.
In its decision, the court declared, "We have no other option except to presume that no such notification exists," highlighting that even the customs official supposedly responsible for issuing the ban was unable to provide a copy.
Published in 1988, The Satanic Verses generated immediate controversy, especially within Muslim communities, due to its depiction of Prophet Muhammad. The book was banned in several countries, but this recent decision in India marks the end of its longstanding import restriction.
