Arundhati speech: HC notice to state govt

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday issued notice to state government seeking its response as to why criminal case should not be registered against hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, writer Arundhati Roy and Delhi University professor S A R Geelani, for allegedly making anti-India speeches.
Justice Hima Kohli asked the government to file its response on a petition seeking criminal prosecution of SAR Geelani and others under the charge of sedition and other offences.Advocate Sugriva Dubey, appearing for the petitioner, submitted the government should be directed to take action under section 124 AIPC (sedition). ‘‘ The freedom of speech alone never includes the freedom of propagation of ideas against national interest and one has to ensure speeches should not be allowed to be made only for the purpose of provoking innocent people,’’ Dubey submitted.
The advocate alleged Roy, in her speech, had said that Jammu & Kashmir is not an integral part of India and that she had called upon the youth of the state to make sacrifices for Kashmir.