Tuesday, March 14 2006 20:12 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has issued notice to painter M F Hussain on a petition seeking action against him for portrayal of gods and goddesses in the nude.

Justice D G Deshpande and Justice V K Tahilramani also directed Commissioners of Police of Mumbai and Thane and six other police officers to explain in affidavits why no action was taken against Hussain for holding exhibition of paintings depicting gods and goddesses in the nude.

The matter came up for hearing yesterday and has been adjourned to March 27.

The petition filed by Sudhir Nadkarni and four others sought action against Hussain for allegedly insulting Hindu deities and hurting sentiments of people.

The petition said that police had not taken any action against Hussain despite knowledge about his paintings' exhibitions.

The petitioners alleged that they had approached police on several occassions to lodge complaint against Hussain.

However, no action was taken against Hussain although it was compulsory for police to take action since commission of such act was a non-bailable offence, they argued.