Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor, V K Saxena, has sanctioned the prosecution of acclaimed author Arundhati Roy and former professor at the Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, over alleged provocative speeches delivered in 2010.
The FIR (First Information Report) against Roy and Hussain was initiated on November 29, 2010, following the directives of the Metropolitan Magistrate. The charges encompass sedition, promoting enmity based on religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language, and making assertions detrimental to national integration. Furthermore, they were charged with acts related to public mischief and under Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
A senior Delhi Police officer, choosing to remain anonymous, stated,
“They were also charged with the acts related to public mischief. The case was also registered under Section 13 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. Besides Roy and Hussain, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, the then chairman of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat and former Delhi University professor Syed Abdul Rehman Geelani and Maoist sympathizer Varvara Rao, who is also an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case, were also present on the occasion.”
The event, titled “Azadi – The Only Way,” took place on October 21, 2010, at the LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg. It was organized by the Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP). Sushil Pandit, a Kashmiri social activist, lodged a complaint on October 28, 2010, stating,
“The complainant had alleged that the issue discussed and propagated was ‘separation of Kashmir from India’. It was also alleged that the speeches were provocative in nature, jeopardizing public peace and security.”
Raj Niwas officials further elaborated on the matter,
“LG V K Saxena noted that prima facie a case is made out against Roy and Dr Hussain, former Professor, International Law, Central University of Kashmir, for commission of offence under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of Indian Penal Code for their speeches at a public function in the national capital.”
It’s noteworthy that while a case of sedition was established, sanction was not granted under Section 124A of IPC (Sedition) due to a Supreme Court directive from May 11, 2022. The directive stated that all pending trials and proceedings under this section should be kept in abeyance.
Two other accused in the case, Sayed Ali Shah Geelani and Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, have passed away during the case’s pendency.
As of now, neither Arundhati Roy nor Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain have provided comments on the recent developments.
