An Indian court has been asked to rule on whether Ashutosh Maharaj, a revered Hindu guru, is dead or alive and whether the decision is based on religious faith or scientific fact.
Under threat of legal action, Penguin India agreed to pulp remaining copies of a book accused of having been written with the intent of maligning and offending Hindus.
Colonial era law that was struck down by the Delhi High Court in 2009 is reinstated after appeal by Muslim, Christian and Hindu religious groups, politicians and an astrologer.
This month, a Bombay high court sided with an atheist teacher, forcing the school to award him his pay raise and summarily acknowledging his constitutional rights.
