A division bench, comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice R K Abichandani, said the court would hear the petition on July 6 and directed the respondents to appear in person or be represented by advocates in the court on that day and until the disposal of the case.

If they failed to appear in person or through an advocate, the court would hear the petition ex-parte, the court said.

In a special criminal application, the petitioner Samson Christian, joint secretary, United Christian Association, has alleged that the administration failed to take action under penal laws against persons who allegedly made offending and inflammatory speeches that provoked and incited attacks on Christians and their institutions in Dangsdistrict and elsewhere in Gujarat last year.

In its writ to the Collector and Superintendent of Police, Dangs, through Home department, Gujarat Government, the court said "You are hereby accordingly directed to take appropriate action under penal laws against all persons who are alleged to have made offending speeches resulting in attacks on religious places, schools, hospitals and houses of Christians in Dangs and elsewhere in Gujarat including the cases referred to in this petition." The petitioner alleged that the occurrences in Dangs go to show that fundamentalist organisations had unleashed a systematic campaign against the Christians.

Submitting that the activities of these organisations which were punishable under Section 153a and Section 153b of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and their existence unlawful under the meaning of Section 2 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the petitioner alleged that the State Government had failed to contain the illegal activities of these bodies.

Hesubmitted that the court through a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ direct the State Government to take penal action against those who made provocative speeches; to implement reports of National Minority Commission; pending admission, hearing and final disposal of the petition, issue an interim order seeking a status report on the question of persecution of minorities.