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The Supreme Court ruled that the right to free speech through poetry, theatre, stand-up comedy, and satire must be protected.
The court quashed a criminal case against Congress MP Imran Pratapgadhi, who was accused of inciting discord with his poem on “suffering injustice with love.”
The case was based on a complaint about an edited video of the MP’s poem, with accusations of promoting enmity based on caste and religion.
SC on Free speech
The judgment emphasized that free speech should not be stifled, even if some find the expression uncomfortable.
Justice Bhuyan stated that restrictions on free speech must be reasonable and not oppressive.
The court stressed that free speech is crucial for a healthy society and cannot be suppressed just because it’s unpopular.
Authorities must act with courage and not be influenced by political pressures when handling freedom of expression.
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