Today, On 18th November, The Supreme Court adjourned Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s plea seeking the release of his passport, which is linked to remarks made on Operation Sindoor. The matter was deferred even though the Court had earlier fixed November 18 for the hearing.
A Sonepat court has placed Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad in judicial custody following his Facebook post about India’s Operation Sindoor, provoking public outrage over perceived free speech violations. Arrested after police custody due to complaints, his case raises critical questions regarding the boundaries of free expression in national security discussions.
NEW DELHI: Today (11th Feb): The Supreme Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW), which is associated with the CPI. The PIL raised concerns about the rising incidents of mob lynching and violence, especially by cow vigilantes. The Bench, led by Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran, referred to its previous ruling in the case of Tehseen Poonawalla v. Union of India and stated that while the ruling is binding on all authorities, the Court cannot oversee or monitor such incidents in every part of the country.
Former Chief Justice of India UU Lalit praised the new criminal laws for addressing mob lynching and welcomed changes related to hit-and-run cases. He supported the 15-day police custody rule and hailed the abolition of the colonial-era sedition law. Lalit compared the new laws to previous anti-terrorism legislation and emphasized the need for a democratic society.
The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has replaced the Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Indian Evidence Act with new laws. These bring changes including a 45-day time limit for court rulings, 60-day framing of trial charges, and two-month limit for investigating offenses against women and children. Also introduced: the death penalty for specific offenses and recognition of digital records as trial evidence.
