New Delhi: The Supreme Court has pulled up the West Bengal government for summoning a Delhi resident who criticised the State in her Facebook post for not implementing lockdown amid COVID-19 pandemic and allowing large congregations.
The bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud was hearing a petition filed by Roshni Biswas who had challenged the summons issued to her by the West Bengal police and high court.
Justice Chandrachud said the state cannot harass a person for being critical about the government.
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"Tomorrow, police from Kolkata, Mumbai, Manipur and Chennai will summon people from all parts of India to send a chilling message -- you want the freedom of speech, we will teach you a lesson," said the court.
"This is browbeating a citizen for exercising the right to free speech. One can't be prosecuted for saying the pandemic is not dealt with properly," observed the judges further.
The court suggested that questioning by police be done via email or video conferencing.
