Lucknow HC takes up bikini case as a PIL

An Australian model wearing a bikni with a picture of a Hindu goddess on it has outraged the community.

LUCKNOW/MELBOURNE: Taking suo motu cognisance of newspaper photographs of an Australian model wearing a bikni with a picture of a Hindu goddess on it, the Allahabad high court has decided to take up the matter as a PIL.

A bench comprising justices Devi Prasad Singh and S C Chaurasia directed that the matter be registered as a PIL of criminal nature and fixed the matter for May 10 after three advocates drew the court's attention to the photographs, saying they were intended to insult the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.

Meanwhile, the Australian swimwear company which triggered the controversy apologised to the Hindu community. "We would like to offer an apology to anyone we may have offended and advise that the image of Goddess Laxmi will not appear on any piece of our swimwear for the new season, with a halt put on all production of the new range and piece shown on the runway removed," said a statement.