New Delhi: The Supreme Court has quashed sedition charges against journalist Vinod Dua by a BJP leader in Himachal Pradesh for his statements made against PM Narendra Modi on his YouTube channel. Dua had contended that charges against him were politically motivated and in violation of his fundamental right of free speech.
"Every journalist is entitled to protection under Kedar Nath Singh Judgement," ordered the bench comprising of Justice UU Lalit and Justice Vineet Saran while pronouncing the order today.
In the Kedar Nath Singh case, the apex court had limited the offence of sedition under Article 124 of IPC to acts "involving intention or tendency to create disorder or disturbance of law and order or incitement to violence".
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There was also a prayer made by Dua wherein he sought the formation of a committee to verify the allegations made against journalists with experience of 10 years or more, prior to lodging FIRs against them.
The court rejected Dua's appeal observing that this would be an encroachment into the legislature and that the plea seeking non-registration of FIRs against media persons cannot be entertained.
Earlier when the plea was heard in the top court, the court had granted a stay on his arrest and had asked the Himachal police to interrogate him via video conferencing rather than personal appearance.
