SC reserves verdict on Meghalaya scribe Patricia Mukhim’s plea to quash FIR over Facebook post
First Published: 16th February, 2021 20:46 IST
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by journalist Patricia Mukhim against Meghalaya High Court ruling which refused to quash an FIR against her for
The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a plea filed by journalist Patricia Mukhim against Meghalaya High Court ruling which refused to quash an FIR against her for allegedly creating communal disharmony through her Facebook post.
A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and Ravindra Bhat heard arguments during which senior advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for Mukhim, submitted that there was no intention to create disharmony or conflict through the post which referred to an incident of a murderous assault on July 3, 2020.
“It has to be seen what was the intent of my post. I am drawing the attention of the Chief Minister and police towards the attack. My aim was to highlight the criminal element present in the society. I am performing my role as a responsible citizen,” Grover argued.
The counsel for the Meghalaya government told the top court that “communal colour” was given to the scuffle between minor boys and her post shows it was a communal incident between tribal and non-tribal people.
On November 10 last year, the single bench judge of Meghalaya High Court in his ruling found Mukhim guilty of creating communal disharmony, a crime under Section 153 CrPC and refused to quash an FIR filed by the Lawsohtun Dorbar Shnong (a traditional institution).
Mukhim had hit out at the Lawsohtun village “dorbar” (council) on Facebook for failing to identify the “murderous elements” after five boys were attacked at a basketball court in July this year.
Eleven people were picked up and two were arrested in the case.
The police complaint was filed against Mukhim by the village council on July 6 for her post on the social media, alleging that her statement incited communal tension and might instigate communal conflict.
She was subsequently booked under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc. and other provisions of the IPC. PTI
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Lok Sabha Polls- Manipur: EVMs at 4 polling stations reportedly destroyed in Oinam village
26th April 2024Live Lok Sabha Polls- Manipur: Cong demands repoll in 17 polling stations in Ukhrul
26th April 2024Live Mizoram: 11 involved in state’s biggest scam and potentially in Northeast arrested
26th April 2024Live First reax of Meghalaya Dy CM Sniawbhalang Dhar after supected petrol bomb hurled at his residence
26th April 2024WE RECOMMEND
Meghalaya: HYC upset over illegal settlement opposite F&ES station in Shillong, seeks eviction of illegal settlers
Highly concerned over the "illegal settlement", the HYC took the matter in it's own hands and in fact carried out an inquiry through spot verification.
26th April 2024Suspected petrol bomb hurled at Meghalaya Dy CM Dhar’s residence
DCM Sniawbhalang Dhar has filed an FIR at and police have begun investigation into the incident
26th April 2024Meghalaya Govt yet to receive proceeds from successful bidders of coal auction in 2023
Justice BP Katakey told the government to allow the extension for a reasonable period of time to make the payment of entire auction value, if necessary in instalments
26th April 2024Meghalaya LS polls: BJP fully backed NPP, affirms cabinet min and BJP MLA AL Hek
In fact, Hek also turned down speculations that the BJP leadership could not convince its party workers to lend support to the NPP.
25th April 2024Meghalaya: Two arrested in connection with recent murder cases at Ichamati and Mawlai Mawroh
The identity of the arrested persons are yet to be revealed by the police.
24th April 2024