Today, On 4th December, The High Court refused to entertain a plea challenging Navjot Sidhu’s wife’s public statement about her cancer cure. Observing that freedom of speech is a fundamental right, the court declined to intervene, stating such claims fall within personal expression. The plea alleged misinformation but failed to establish grounds for judicial action. The ruling reinforces the principle of free speech in public discourse.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court stated on Wednesday that freedom of speech remains intact in the country as it declined to entertain a plea against Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu’s claims regarding remedies that purportedly aided his wife in her fight against stage 4 cancer.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela remarked that the former cricketer was merely expressing his opinion, and the petitioner was free to counter those claims. “He is just voicing his opinion.
The bench stated,
“We still have freedom of speech in this country,”
Counter his claims by holding a press conference. Counter free speech with free speech, not by limiting his free speech out of fear of legal repercussions or contempt.
The judges emphasized,
“You can’t argue for a curtailment of freedom of speech. You counter his claims. This is not within our jurisdiction. If you disagree with this gentleman’s views, simply choose not to listen to him. There are many books you may find objectionable; don’t read them. Who is compelling you to read them? Free speech should not be restricted by legal action or threats of contempt.”
As the court clarified that it could not entertain a writ petition on this matter, the petitioner chose to withdraw it, stating,
“We cannot entertain a writ petition on this. Thousands of individuals claim to have cures for various ailments, but that does not warrant action against them.”
During a press conference in Amritsar on November 21, Sidhu announced that his wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, had been declared cancer-free, attributing her recovery to dietary and lifestyle changes.
He mentioned that her diet included items like lemon water, raw turmeric, apple cider vinegar, neem leaves, basil, pumpkin, pomegranate, amla, beetroot, and walnuts, which he claimed contributed to her health. After oncologists disputed his assertion that a strict diet could help defeat stage 4 cancer, Sidhu clarified on November 25 that the diet plan was developed in consultation with doctors and should be viewed as “facilitation in the treatment.”
During the hearing, the petitioner expressed his disagreement with Sidhu’s claim of a 100% cancer cure, questioning whether ingredients like tulsi and ashwagandha could genuinely combat stage 4 cancer. He noted that Sidhu’s statements had circulated widely on social media and news outlets and argued that, as a public figure, Sidhu had significant influence.
Therefore, the petitioner urged the court to restrain the distribution of the videos, asserting that misinformation was being spread. However, the court responded that if Sidhu’s wife, who is a doctor, felt better by adhering to a specific diet, that was positive.
Justice Gedela suggested that if the petitioner were truly concerned about public health, he should consider filing a petition against the production of cigarettes and alcohol.
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On November 23, Dr. C.S. Pramesh, director of Tata Memorial Hospital, which specializes in cancer treatment, shared a video of Sidhu’s press conference on X, stating,
“Parts of the video imply that starving cancer by avoiding dairy products and sugar, and consuming haldi (turmeric) and neem, helped cure her ‘incurable’ cancer.”
He added,
“Please don’t believe or be misled by these statements, regardless of their source. These are unscientific and baseless recommendations. It was surgery and chemotherapy evidence-based treatments that made her cancer-free, not haldi, neem, or similar remedies.”