The Supreme Court issued this ruling during a hearing involving a political commentator Garga Chatterjee from West Bengal who had filed a plea seeking protection from potential arrests.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India emphasized the need for politicians to have a resilient disposition, stating, “Politicians should be thick-skinned.” This remark came while the court was considering a petition from a political commentator based in West Bengal, who sought legal protection against potential arrest. This commentator faced multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) for purportedly making offensive comments about the Assamese community.
The bench, comprising Justices B R Gavai and Sanjay Karol, also noted the importance of tolerance in the judiciary. They remarked that judges, too, should overlook remarks made against them, whether in written communications or interviews, reflecting a changing societal landscape where public figures are often subject to criticism.
“Politicians should be thick-skinned. We judges also need to be cautious in view of letters and interviews happening these days. If we start listening to them we will not be able to work,”
–Justice Gavai said.
During the proceedings, senior advocate Siddharth Agarwal and advocate Ashutosh Dubey, representing political commentator Garga Chatterjee, informed the bench that he had posted specific comments on Twitter (now X) in 2020.
Agarwal pointed out that multiple FIRs had been filed against Chatterjee in both Assam and West Bengal, and he requested that these cases be consolidated and transferred to a neutral state for further investigation.
Regarding the comments made by the then Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Agarwal mentioned that Chatterjee was arrested following an official statement in which Sonowal ordered his arrest.
“On August 19, 2020, the petitioner tendered a public apology for his remarks hurting the sentiments of the people of Assam,”
-he said.
The bench asked him whether he was granted bail or not.
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Agarwal said that bail was given and he was granted protection from arrest in FIRs lodged in West Bengal and Assam by this court on September 9, 2022.
The bench then posted the matter for a final hearing on a non-miscellaneous day and asked the pleadings to be completed.
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