However, the government would go slow in collecting information and no Christian would be harassed or intimidated during the drive, additional advocate general S N Shelat told the court during hearing of a suo motu petition on the circular.

The circular, according to a newspaper report, was issued by the director general of police (intelligence) this February 6, asking all the district superintendents of police and commissioners to collect information about Christians by February 15.

Seeking adjournment to February 16 for putting on record the government stand, Shelat submitted that the government had not received the court notice so far, and he had no specific instruction from the government either. Citing the High Court's earlier judgment, Shelat said the single judge had no right to deal with such public interest litigation in the nature of suo motu. Justice M R Calla posted further hearing to February 16.

Lok Adhikar Sangh, the United Christians Forum for Human Rights and advocate Joy Mathew sought permission to join as parties in the proceedings.

Fr Cedric Prakash of the Forum submitted that the circular was objectionable, for it had sought to collect irrelevant information about the Christians, and prayed for a directive to the government to withdraw it.

He said the government action was nothing but harassment to the minority people, pointing out that students of a Christian school in Naroda were visited by police and asked some questions.

Senior advocate Girish Patel, on behalf of the Sangh, submitted that the circular was unconstitutional as it sought to isolate Christians for collecting information. It also violates the right of equality as enshrined in the Constitution under Articles 14 and Article 29 (1) which ensures protection to the minorities.

Meanwhile, the Forum directed Christians and their institutions not to divulge any information to any authority in connection with the circular. The circular violates the fundamental rights enshrined in Article 15 (1) of the Constitution which asserts that no citizen can be segregated on the basis of religion, said Fr Cedric Prakash.