New Delhi: Retired Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur said on Monday that in response to public opinion, the government is resorting to sedition law to curb freedom of speech. Addressing a webinar on the subject of ‘freedom of speech and judiciary’, Justice (Retd) Lokur said that to crush freedom of speech, the government is also adopting a method of accusing people of spreading fake news. They are being charged under the provisions of fake news on journalists reporting issues such as coronavirus cases and related ventilator shortages.
Justice Lokur said, “The government is resorting to sedition law to curb freedom of speech. Suddenly the number of such cases has increased in which people have been charged with treason. A common citizen speaking anything is being accused of treason. So far this year, 70 cases of sedition have been seen. ” The webinar was organized by the Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms and the Swaraj Abhiyan. Speaking on the contempt of court case against advocate Prashant Bhushan, he said that his statements were misread.
He also cited the case of Dr. Kalif Khan and said that while making allegations under the National Security Act, his speech and his statements against the Citizenship Amendment Act were misread. Senior journalist N Ram said that the sentence given in Prashant Bhushan’s case is absurd and there is no firm basis for the findings of the Supreme Court. Ram said, “I have a lot of respect for the judiciary. It is the judiciary that read the freedom of the press in the constitution. “
Social activist Aruna Rai said that due to the widespread situation of Bhushan, people have been empowered and this matter has inspired people. Meanwhile, Prashant Bhushan has submitted a fine of one rupee as a punishment in the registry of the Supreme Court after he was convicted of contempt for two tweets that were derogatory to the judiciary. Talking to the media after paying the fine, Bhushan said that he has received contributions from all parts of the country to pay the fine and with this contribution a ‘Truth Fund’ will be created to face legal proceedings due to disagreement. Those will be provided with legal help.
