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A video went viral where in a poem Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman, and Lord Hanuman were depicted to be involved in manual scavenging.
The Madras High Court recently passed an order of interim stay on legal proceedings against Viduthalai Sigappi, alias P. Vigneshwaran, an assistant to film director Pa. Ranjith, pending disposal of Sigappi's petition to quash the case lodged against him for his poem titled Malakuzhi Maranam.
In the poem, Lord Rama, Lord Lakshman, and Lord Hanuman were depicted to be involved in manual scavenging.
While dealing with Sigappi's petition, the bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh opined that a prima facie case was made out. Accordingly, court issued notice to the respondent parties, while posting the matter after eight weeks.
Before the single judge bench, Sigappi's counsel senior advocate T. Lajapathi Roy argued that the poem in question was recited during a literary event with the intention of highlighting the gravity of deaths resulting from manual scavenging, rather than aiming to offend any religious sentiments.
He also took plea of artistic freedom. He asserted that an artist should not face legal action for the artistic freedom he takes.
Through the petition, the assistant director said that even after the enactment of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013, incidents of manual scavenging and the resulting fatalities continue to be reported.
Moreover, he referred to the judgment of the Delhi High Court in 2008 in artist MF Hussain’s case; and the 2016 judgment of the Madras High Court in author Perumal Murugan’s case, to assert that unrestricted exchange of opinions and ideas should not be limited.
The FIR against the assistant director was lodged at the Abhiramapuram police station in Chennai on the basis of a complaint filed by one P. Suresh of Bharath Hindu Munnani.
The offences alleged against Sigappi are under Sections 153, 153A(1)(a), 295A, 505(1)(b) and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code.
The complaint against Sigappi alleged that at an indoor venue in Raja Annamalaipuram on April 30 during Vaanam arts festival, Sigappi recited a poem that outraged the religious feelings of the complainant and others belonging to his community.
Case Title: P. VIGNESHWARAN VIDHUTHALAI SIGAPPI VS INSPECTOR OF POLICE AND ANOTHER
[Input : The Hindu]
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