Supreme Court Slams ‘Publicity Litigation’, Upholds Arundhati Roy’s Book Cover Showing Her Smoking

The Supreme Court dismissed a plea claiming Arundhati Roy’s book cover violated anti-tobacco laws, calling it a publicity-driven case. The Court held the image was not an advertisement and did not breach COTPA.

Kerala High Court Dismisses Plea Against Arundhati Roy’s Smoking Photo on Book Cover: PIL Not a Vehicle for Self-Publicity

Today, On 13th October, The Kerala High Court dismissed a PIL challenging Arundhati Roy’s smoking photo on her book cover, observing that the petitioner filed it without verifying facts and warning that public interest litigation cannot be misused for self-publicity or personal slander.