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Synopsis

The Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena, on Friday (June 14, 2024), sanctioned the prosecution of novelist Arundhati Roy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for delivering a provocative speech during a conference titled "Azadi – The Only Way," held in October 2010 at LTG Auditorium on Copernicus Marg, New Delhi.

The approval granted by the LG, granted under Section 45 of the UAPA, also extends to Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former professor at the Central University of Kashmir for participating in the same conference alongside Roy.

The allegations stem from a First Information Report (FIR), filed by social activist Sushil Pandit. The complainant alleged that Roy and Hussain made incendiary remarks, asserting that their speeches incited public unrest. The conference featured discussions and speeches advocating for the separation of Kashmir from India.

Earlier, the Delhi Police sought prosecution sanctions under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)—153A, 153B, 504, and 505—as well as under Section 13 of the UAPA. While the L-G had previously granted sanctions under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC.) for the IPC sections in October, he has now extended the sanction to include Section 13 of the UAPA.

Section 13 of the UAPA prescribes punishment for unlawful activities, including advocating, abetting, or inciting such actions, with imprisonment of upto seven years imprisonment. Section 153A of the IPC deals with promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and acts prejudicial to maintaining harmony. Section 153B addresses assertions detrimental to national integration, and Section 505 pertains to intentional insults aimed at provoking breaches of peace.

The case initially included two other accused: Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, Kashmiri separatist leader, and Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, a Delhi University lecturer. However, both have passed away during the course of the proceedings.

 

Source: PTI