The Supreme Court refused to quash the cases filed against BJP leader H Raja for his controversial remarks against Periyar and women. Raja faced legal action following his comments, and despite seeking relief from the Supreme Court, the cases against him will continue.
NEW DELHI: Today (May 14): The Supreme Court of India rejected the plea to dismiss multiple criminal cases filed against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader H Raja. The charges were related to his contentious statements about social activist Periyar and women. The court expressed concerns about the declining quality of political discourse and emphasized the importance of politicians exercising caution in their public statements.
The Madras High Court earlier declined to quash the 11 First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against Raja across Tamil Nadu, leading to his appeal to the Supreme Court.
A bench comprising Justices Hrishikesh Roy and Prashant Kumar Mishra decided not to quash the criminal cases against H Raja. The court expressed its dismay over the diminishing level of political discourse and called for politicians to exercise prudence in their public utterances.
The Supreme Court acknowledged the arguments presented but ultimately dismissed the appeal, upholding the need for accountability in political speech.
“We are highly impressed by your arguments; therefore, we will simply dismiss the case. Individuals involved in politics must exercise caution in their speech; unfortunately, we are witnessing a decline in the quality of public discourse,” remarked the Court.
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Previously, the Madras High Court had refused to accept H. Raja’s explanation that his comments were made under emotional distress. Justice N. Anand Venkatesh, the single judge hearing the case, emphasized that public figures like Raja carry the responsibility to be mindful of their language, even when experiencing anguish.
The High Court found his statements against Periyar to be bordering on hate speech, while the remarks against women were deemed highly defamatory, scandalous, and demeaning. The court concluded that such statements could have a negative impact on society and create unrest across the state.
Justice Venkatesh directed that the seven cases related to Raja’s disparaging remarks against women be consolidated and transferred to the special court for Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in Srivilliputhur district, Tamil Nadu.
Additionally, the court ordered that the remaining four cases pertaining to Raja’s comments about Periyar and other political leaders be jointly tried by the special court in Chennai. This consolidation aims to streamline the legal proceedings and ensure a fair trial.
Background:
H. Raja, a prominent BJP leader, faced legal trouble following his alleged derogatory remarks against Dravidian ideologue Periyar, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi, DMK leader Kanimozhi, and officials of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department, as well as their wives. These remarks were made during a public speech and through social media posts in 2018.
