Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju criticized the arrest of a girl Shaheen Dadha and her friend Renu and called it a big blow on the Freedom of Speech.
Shaheen Dadha was arrested for posting Anti Thackeray Lines on Facebook while Renu, her friend liked it. Read More about the arrest.
In an email sent to Maha CM Prithviraj Chavan, Justice Katju said, “I am forwarding an email I have received stating that a woman in Maharashtra has been arrested for protesting on Facebook against the shutdown in Mumbai on the occasion of the death of Mr. Bal Thackeray.”
It is alleged that she has been arrested for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. To my mind it is absurd to say that protesting against a bandh hurts religious sentiments. Under Article 19(1)(a) of our Constitution, freedom of speech is a guaranteed fundamental right.
We are living in a democracy, not a fascist dictatorship. In fact, this arrest itself appears to be a criminal act since under sections 341 and 342, it is a crime to wrongfully arrest or wrongfully confine someone who has committed no crime.
Hence, if the facts reported are correct, I request you to immediately order the suspension, arrest, chargesheeting and criminal prosecution of the police personnel (however high they may be) who ordered as well as implemented the arrest of that woman, failing which I will deem it that you as Chief Minister are unable to run the state in a democratic manner as envisaged by the Constitution to which you have taken oath, and then the legal consequences will follow.
In a Follow up Mail, Justice Katju wrote
You have not replied to my email but only forwarded it to someone called Amitabh Rajan, whom I do not know, and who has not had the courtesy to respond to me. Please realize that the matter is much too serious to be taken in this cavalier manner, because the principle of liberty is at stake. The entire nation wants to know what action you have taken. I would therefore request you to immediately let me know what you are doing in this matter.
Are we living in a democracy or not? How can a person be arrested for objecting to the shutdown in Mumbai on Thackeray’s death? Article 21 of the Constitution, to uphold which you have taken an oath, states that no one can be deprived of his life or liberty except in accordance with law. Does Article 21 not exist in Maharashtra? Does freedom of speech guaranteed by Article 19(1)(a) also not exist in your state?
Please realize that silence is not an option for you in the matter. The entire nation is furious at this apparently illegal arrest. Therefore, I once again request you to tell me, and through me the entire nation, why this arrest of a woman was made in Mumbai just for putting up an apparently innocuous material on Facebook, and what action you have taken against the delinquent policemen and others involved in this high-handedness and blatant misuse of state machinery.
Lets see what effects Justice Katju’s letters bring about in the whole case.
Will never vote for such a politician in my entire life who does such a horrible job as a chief minister. If an innocent girl can be arrested like that within a day why cant the people who are responsible for this can be punished immediately. I swear we as youth would never vote such a political party and such a minister.