Supreme Court Upholds Freedom of Expression for Congress MP

The Supreme Court quashed an FIR against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, emphasizing the importance of protecting freedom of speech. The FIR alleged that his poem incited community tensions. The court highlighted the role of constitutional courts in safeguarding citizens' rights, calling the FIR a 'mechanical exercise' and abuse of law.

In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court on Friday quashed an FIR against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi, emphasizing the pivotal role of safeguarding freedom of expression in a democracy. Accused of using provocative language in a poem, the court deemed the charges as 'mechanical' and an 'abuse of law.'

A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan underscored the necessity of countering thoughts and views with opposing perspectives as a hallmark of a healthy society. They reiterated the judiciary's duty to protect citizen rights under the constitution, even if the spoken or written words were not favorable.

The court rebuked the police for their actions and highlighted their obligation to respect constitutional rights. Pratapgarhi, whose poem was shared on social media, joined the call for broader dialogue on freedom of expression and criticized governmental efforts to suppress dissent.

(With inputs from agencies.)