No more mental torture to the social and political analyst and Ahmedabad based senior journalist Ashis Nandy by the police and the Gujarat government, the Supreme Court observed while hearing the plea filed by the victim on Tuesday.
The petition was filed by Ashis Nandy apprehending his arrest by the Gujarat police, who were alleging him for sparking animosity among different communities through his article “Blame the middle class,” an analysis based on the outcome of 2007 state assembly polls, published in a national daily news paper.
A vacation bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and G S Singhvi on the one hand, provided blanket protection to the journalist and on the other hand, reprimanded the Modi government for its reckless act against a society concerned journalist. The bench not only squashed all the sedition charges against him slapped by the Gujarat Government but also stayed the summons issued by Satellite police station, Ahmedabad asking him to appear-in-person before July 8.
The court also said any summons issued against him in future in relation to this case would be considered null and void.
The bench exclaiming over the intolerant activity of the government said, “Why people belonging to the land of Mahatma Gandhi, an apostle of non-violence, are appearing so intolerant towards such criticism.”
I have read the article. This has nothing to spit venom against any community. What has he written for which the government is so curious to prosecute him? We did not have found any content of the article objectionable. The court also said that worst than this has been happened in the past. I do not see any political leaders or any councillors would have been punished by the government if they were indulged in such kind of activities. The 71-year-old person was a soft target for you. He is an old person. Let him live in peace, the bench said the state's counsel.
“If a journalist cannot write what he feels, then who will write. It will be disastrous for the country,” the court asked to state's counsel. Nandy's counsel said the article was an expression of personal opinion and had in no way promoted animosity between communities.
An FIR had been lodged against Nandy by the state police on a complaint filed by V K Saxena, president of an NGO, National Council for Civil Liberties. Apprehending arrest Nandy, first had tried to take shelter under the Delhi High Court. But after the court denial to provide interim protection to him against arrest, he moved to Supreme Court.
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