In my view the tone and tenor of the incendiary speech tend to have a debilitating effect upon public tranquility, peace and harmony of the society said the ASJ Anuj Aggarwal of Saket Court while dismissing the bail plea of Sharjeel Imam.
A court in Saket, Dehi has rejected the bail plea of Sharjeel Imam in a case related to inflammatory speeches delivered by Imam during the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Sharjeel Imam was arrested on January 28, 2020, from Bihar for allegedly making a hate speech and provoking the riots in the Jamia Milia Islamia area in December, 2019.
The Court quoted Swami Vivekananda while dismissing his plea.
“We are what our thoughts have made us, so take care about what you think, words are secondary, thoughts live, they travel far.”
Swami Vivekananda.
Additional Sessions Judge of Saket Court said that the tone and tenor of the incendiary speech tend to have a debilitating effect upon public tranquility, peace and harmony of the society.
“Considering the contents of speech, which tend to have a debilitating effect on the communal peace and harmony, I am not inclined to grant bail to the applicant Sharjeel Imam at this stage. The accused cannot claim any parity with co-accused as his role is entirely different from other co-accused. Accordingly, the instant application moved on behalf of accused Sharjeel Imam for grant of regular bail stands dismissed.”
ASJ Anuj Aggarwal.
The Court also said that the Fundamental Right of freedom of speech and expression cannot be exercised at the cost of communal peace and harmony of society.
“The Fundamental Right of freedom of speech and expression as enshrined under Article 19 has been placed upon a very high pedestal in the Constitution of this country and its essence is well captured in statememt of John Milton, the famous British poet and intellect who says ‘give me the liberty to know, to argue freely,and to utter according to conscience, above all liberties’, the right of freedom of speech and expression cannot be exercised at the cost of communal peace and harmony of society.”
The Bench of Saket Court.
Sharjeel Imam of JNU and a columnist with leftist propaganda websites was accused of giving speeches to provoke riots in the country during the protests against CAA and NRC.