SC relief for journalist, 2 lawyers booked under UAPA for Tripura violence remarks

The Supreme Court on Wednesday said that no coercive action must be taken against lawyers Mukesh Kumar and Ansarul Haq Ansar and journalist Shyam Meera Singh, who have been booked by the Tripura police under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for their statements on the communal violence that recently swept through the state, NDTV reported.

Singh was booked reportedly after he tweeted “Tripura is burning”, while Kumar and Ansar had visited Tripura and published a fact-finding report on the violence. The Tripura police had issued notices against the lawyers and asked them to appear for interrogation.

The three had filed a writ petition seeking to quash the UAPA case and the Supreme Court, on November 11, had agreed to hear the plea.

According to a report by Live Law, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India N V Ramana and Justices DY Chandrachud and Surya Kant passed the order. Advocate Prashant Bhushan represented the petitioners in court.

According to Live Law, the petitioners had also challenged the constitutionality of certain sections under the UAPA. The petition was listed after advocate Prashant Bhushan sought an urgent hearing before a bench headed by CJI N V Ramana.

Last month, retired Supreme Court judge Justice R F Nariman had termed the UAPA a “draconian act”.

Earlier this month, Tripura police also approached Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for details of more than 100 social media accounts they claim were used to make “fake” and “provocative” posts. This was after they filed several criminal cases against more than 70 people, including Singh.