Free Speech
Less than two years after he stepped down as Vice-Chancellor, noted scholar, political scientist and commentator Pratap Bhanu Mehta resigned as professor from Ashoka University Tuesday. Mehta, who is also Contributing Editor, The Indian Express, has consistently, in his writing and public appearances, questioned the ruling establishment. He is considered one of the nation’s foremost scholars on politics and political theory, Constitutional law, governance and political economy.
Asked by The Indian Express if his criticism of the government had anything to do with his exit, the university sidestepped the question.
The Jammu and Kashmir high court has ruled that authorities deprived Kashmiri journalist and editor Fahad Shah of his “constitutional and legal rights” while terming the grounds of his detention under the controversial Public Safety Act (PSA) as “mere surmise” and “vague and bald assertions.” https://thewire.in/law/fahad-shah-public-safety-act-jammu-kashmir-high-court
Quashing the proceedings under the PSA, which has been termed as ‘a lawless law’ by Amnesty International, a single bench of J&K HC led by Justice Wasim Sadiq Nargal ruled that the authorities “did not carefully evaluate and apply their thoughts” while issuing the PSA order.
by Jehangir Ali
20/04/2023
Bombay High Court Refuses To Quash FIR Against Kashmiri Professor Booked For WhatsApp Status Calling Abrogation Of Article 370 "Black Day For J&K" https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/all-high-courts/bombay-high-court-professor-abrogation-article-370-black-day-jammu-kashmir-whatsapp-status-fir-dissent-criticism-analysis-democracy-226339
When I look at the court observation that .. “In our view, this message has the tendency to play with emotions of different groups of people in India as there are strong feelings of contrasting nature about status of Jammu and Kashmir in India and, therefore, one has to tread cautiously in such a field, lest the emotions may reach up to sucha level as to bring about consequences or reasonable possibility of consequences visiting as envisaged in Section 153-A of IPC,” the court added.
Comments of WhatsApp: .. It looks like there is a conservative Collective consciousness in the benches, that is uncomfortable with liberal ideas, which seems to agree that "khatre mein hain" logic...
the observation “So, if any criticism is to be made, it must be upon evaluation of all pros and cons of the situation and backed by reason,” means that you cannot have any criticism on "strong feelings of contrasting nature" on any short messaging app, like WA, Instagram, Twitter.. "evaluation of all pros and con" and back up of "reason" should be "seen" and not heard in the courts!
Allahabad HC Puts Interim Stay On Broadcast Of Al Jazeera's Documentary 'India: Who Lit The Fuse' In India In View Of Probable 'Evil Consequences' https://www.livelaw.in/high-court/allahabad-high-court/allahabad-hc-interim-stay-broadcast-al-jazeera-documentary-india-who-lit-the-fuse-evil-consequences-article-19-230657
Allahabad HC restrains Al Jazeera from telecasting documentary on Hindutva in India https://scroll.in/latest/1050963/allahabad-hc-restrains-al-jazeera-from-telecasting-documentary-on-communal-violence-in-india
A social activist named Sudhir Kumar filed a public interest litigation against the telecasting of the film in India. He claimed that the documentary has the potential to create disharmony among citizens and threaten the country’s integrity.
Kumar contended that the film is “likely to create hatred amongst different religious denominations and thereby destroy the secular fabric of the Indian State”. He claimed that he learnt from print and social media reports that the film portrays India’s Muslim community to be living in fear and presents a “disruptive narrative” that could create a sense of public hatred.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/16/india-court-bars-airing-of-al-jazeera-documentary The Al Jazeera documentary features an interview with a defector from the RSS, who reveals chilling details of his training sessions in RSS camps, allegedly overseen by members of the Indian Army.
The film also depicts the harassment and targeting of nearly 700,000 Muslims in the northeastern state of Assam, governed by the BJP. Since the passage of a citizenship law in 2019, the Bengali-speaking Muslims in Assam fear losing their nationality and being deported to neighbouring Bangladesh.
The Al Jazeera investigation also reveals widespread campaigns across multiple Indian states to demolish properties belonging to Muslims. The campaigns include tearing down homes and businesses, which critics say is an attempt to economically and socially disenfranchise India’s Muslim minority.
A BJP spokesman dismissed the allegations made in the documentary, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government is committed to rule of law in the Hindu-majority country and individuals accused of targeting Muslims would face severe consequences.
He also defended the RSS, calling it non-discriminatory and working for the welfare of Indians from all the backgrounds, including Muslims, Christians, tribal people and historically disadvantaged groups such as the Dalits.
The court was hearing a petition that claimed that the film, titled 'India... Who lit the Fuse' is “likely to create hatred amongst different religious denominations and thereby destroy the secular fabric of the Indian state". https://thewire.in/law/allahabad-high-court-al-jazeera-documentary-muslims-evil-consequences
A petition filed by one Sudhir Kumar, who claims to be “a public-spirited person and a social activist”, has cited detailed reasons for asking for the documentary to be barred by the court from being aired by Al Jazeera. Among them are principally, that it is “likely to create hatred amongst different religious denominations and thereby destroy the secular fabric of the Indian State. The Film also has the potential to create social unrest and disturb public order, decency and morality.”
15/06/2023