DELHI: Mr. D. Falshaw, District and Sessions Judge dismissed the appeal of Dr. B.X. Tasates and Miss Margarette Hofmann, two Bible preachers and Jehovah’s Witnesses who were convicted by the District Magistrate Mr. W.F.G. Le Baily, I.C.S. for issuing a prejudicial pamphlet headed, “A Warning To All Christians” through the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society which was prohibited by an order of the Government of India under Rule 41 of the D.I.R. from printing and publishing an pamphlet.

In his judgement Mr. Falshaw observed that although the accused had alleged that they had never indulged in activities which could in any way impede the war efforts, it seems to him that ‘prima facie’ the Government must have had good grounds for supposing that the activities of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society … were prejudicial to the prosecution of the war. The judge remarked: “I cannot understand how the plea can be seriously put forward on behalf of the accused that the pamphlet was merely a private retort to the attack by Delhi Clergymen, which it has to be noted, was directed not only against Jehovah’s Witnesses but also against the organisations named in the Government notification…

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2019