Supreme Court slams cartoonist Hemant Malviya for 'inflammatory' cartoon of PM Modi, RSS
The Supreme Court slammed Indore-based cartoonist Hemant Malviya for an 'inflammatory' cartoon of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, which is the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's ideological mentor, with a link to Lord Shiva in the comments.
A bench headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia expressed disappointment over the 50-year-old cartoonist's "immaturity" and called his creation an "abuse of freedom of speech and expression".
In a sharp observation on Monday, the court asked for the cartoon to be deleted.
The court then posted the matter, which is Malviya's anticipatory bail plea, for further hearing on Tuesday.
The court told Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Malviya, that nothing would happen in 24 hours.
Earlier, Grover told the court that Malviya posted only the cartoon and that the comments, on a social media platform on which the image had been shared, had been added by another individual.
"It was from 2021 (during the Covid pandemic)... about some comments that some vaccines are 'safe as water'. There was a lot of confusion and misinformation then about vaccines."
She also pointed out that no law-and-order problems had emerged because of the cartoon. "The cartoon made headlines someone else because things live on social media forever," she said.
She said the cartoonist is ready to apologise.
Meanwhile, Justice Dhulia asked Additional Solicitor-General KM Nataraj, appearing for the State, if an apology would be enough. "They are saying it is offensive but not an offence..."
To this, the ASG responded that if the cartoon had been admitted to be 'offensive', then it had to be an offence.
"This is causing social disharmony and a breakdown of law-and-order... all over the country such things are happening and they are 'triggering'," he said.
Malviya approached the Supreme Court after the Madhya Pradesh High Court refused anticipatory bail following a police case.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
Related Articles
Delhi goes into emergency mode! Work from home, vehicle bans as AQI hits ‘severe’
New Delhi/IBNS: Stricter guidelines to curb air pollution in Delhi were enforced on Thursday as the national capital grappled with a “severe” Air Quality Index (AQI), media reports said.
Massive fire guts shanties near Eco Park in Kolkata; no casualties
Kolkata/IBNS: A massive fire broke out in a cluster of shanties near Eco Park in Kolkata’s New Town area on Wednesday evening, media reports said. No casualties were reported in the incident.
Parallel justice system in Bengaluru! Apartment body booked for hushing up crimes
Bengaluru police have registered a criminal case against a residential apartment association and its private security agency for allegedly bypassing the criminal justice system by dealing with serious offences internally instead of reporting them to the police, media reports said.
Only BS-IV and above vehicles will be exempted, Supreme Court clarifies pollution order
The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that only vehicles with BS-IV compliant engines and above will be exempt from action if found operating in Delhi, modifying its earlier order on curbs for older vehicles amid worsening air pollution.
Latest News
Delhi goes into emergency mode! Work from home, vehicle bans as AQI hits ‘severe’
Tripura signs MoU with National Bureau of Soil Survey to boost agricultural productivity
Security scare for Nidhhi Agerwal as fans swarm actress at The Raja Saab event in Hyderabad
Massive fire guts shanties near Eco Park in Kolkata; no casualties