The Supreme Court has refused to come to the rescue of former UGC Chairman and eminent historian Satish Chandra, facing prosecution for controversial remarks in his book against Sikh Guru Tegh Bahadur, Guru Namdev, Chhattrapati Shivaji and Tulsidas.

The textbook for class 11 was withdrawn in April, 2006. An FIR against Mr Chandra, NCERT Director and Secretary, was registered in September in the same year.

A bench, comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices P Sathasivam and Deepak Verma, refused to interfere with the judgement of the Allahabad High Court. It decided not to quash the FIR registered under Section 153 A and B IPC in Muradabad district.

In the book, published in 1978, the author had stated that Guru Tegh Bahadur was described as a plunderer along with Hafiz Adam, a follower of Sheikh Ahmed Sirhindi in a Persia official account.

Similar references were made with regard to Maratha warrior Shivaji.

UNI