Madras HC Issues Notice On PIL For Probe Into Nationality Of CJP's Saurav Das; Block Of Social Media Accounts Over Comments On Judiciary
The Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to the Union government and Saurav Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janata Party, on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking an investigation into his nationality and background, including that of his parents, and directions to block his social media accounts.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan issued notice to the respondents, including the Union Home Ministry, the Regional Passport Officer (Chennai), the Chairperson of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), and the Foreign Secretary.
Notices were also issued to the Secretaries of the Ministries of Law and Justice and Electronics and Information Technology, as well as the grievance officers of X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.
The notices are returnable in 6 weeks.
The PIL has been filed by R. Ganesh Kumar, who has sought directions to the authorities to conduct a detailed, thorough and fair inquiry into the background and antecedents of Das, co-convenor of the Cockroach Janata Party.
The petitioner has alleged that Das may be a Nepali national and sought a direction that his passport and Aadhaar card be cancelled if the allegations are established through an inquiry.
PIL Seeks Blocking Of X And Instagram Accounts
The petitioner has also sought directions to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to block Das' X and Instagram handles.
The plea further seeks directions to restrain him from making allegedly derogatory statements against the judiciary, particularly judges of the Supreme Court.
When the matter was taken up, Advocate B. Jagannath, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that he had approached the authorities seeking an inquiry into Das' antecedents but no action had been taken.
The petitioner has also sought an investigation into Das’s family background, including details concerning his parents.
The Court has issued notice to the concerned authorities and Das.
Recently, a Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) in New Delhi directed Das to produce documents proving his current residential address in Delhi, in the continuing proceedings over the alleged violation of his peace bond. The matter has been listed for November 17.
The proceedings stem from preventive action taken by the Parliament Street police under Sections 126 and 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (BNSS), on the apprehension of a breach of the peace
Das and Ashutosh Ranka, co-covenor of CJP, were detained after an incident on 12 October, when they scaled a gate and entered the restricted protest site at Jantar Mantar. The action came amid demonstrations and calls for protests against the Chief Election Commissioner over alleged irregularities in the SIR.
The two leaders spent a week in judicial custody. They were released on 21 October after furnishing personal and surety bonds of ₹50,000 each. The prosecution had opposed their release, arguing that they posed a continuing threat to public safety and law and order.