Supreme Court quashes FIR against Shillong Times journalist Patricia Mukhim
First Published: 25th March, 2021 18:55 IST
In a relief to the Editor of Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the FIR lodged against her for a Facebook post condemning violence against non-tribal
In a relief to the Editor of Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim, the Supreme Court on Thursday quashed the FIR lodged against her for a Facebook post condemning violence against non-tribal people in the state.
The Bench headed by Justices L Nageswara Rao and Ravindra Bhat allowed the appeal of Patricia Mukhim, who had challenged the Meghalaya High Court order which had dismissed her plea to quash an FIR against her.
The Meghalaya High Court in November last year had dismissed her plea to quash criminal proceedings against her for a Facebook post decrying violence against non-tribal people in the State.
The High Court while declining to quash the criminal case had opined that, prima facie, the offence of mischief under Section 153 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) had been made out against Mukhim as her post “apparently seeks to promote disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between two communities.”
With her Facebook post, she had sought action by the State against an attack on some non-tribal boys in Meghalaya. An FIR was later filed against Mukhim by the village council on July 6, 2020, for allegedly inciting communal tensions and for defamation.
Referring to an attack on July 3, 2020, on a group of non-tribal boys by 20-25 unidentified youths at a basketball court in the Lawsohtun area of Shillong, Mukhim on July 4 last year had said that Meghalaya has been a failed State because of continued attacks on non-tribal people and that the attackers and trouble-mongers have never been arrested since 1979.
Approaching the apex court, Mukhim, a Padma Shri awardee, in her plea said that she has been facing persecution for speaking the truth and seeking enforcement of rule of law against perpetrators of hate crime.
Mukhim said that the motivation and intent of her post, as apparent from its plain reading, is to ensure that through the legal process, social harmony is maintained in Meghalaya.
The petition in the top court stated that plain reading of Mukhim’s Facebook post makes it clear that the intent and purpose of this post is to “appeal for impartial enforcement of rule of law; equal treatment before the law of all citizens; condemnation of targeted violence against members of a minority group; an end to impunity for violence and thereby ensure peace and harmony between communities and groups.” (ANI)
COMMENTS
TOPMOST STORY NOW
Live Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma inspects installation of waste segregation machine in Tura
06th May 2024Live Rain, haistorm in Meghalaya: CM Conrad instructs DDMAs to distribute urgent relief materials
06th May 2024Live Heavy rain and hailstorm batter Manipur: over 15000 houses damaged, govt provides relief materials
06th May 2024Live Watch | Team India’s T20 World Cup jersey unveiled in magnificent style in Dharamsala
06th May 2024WE RECOMMEND
949 people in 29 villages of Meghalaya affected by rains and storms: MDMA
Eastern West Khasi Hills has been the worst hit with 413 people in 14 villages being affected, 69 houses and 2 schools damaged and 50 hectares of crop destroyed.
06th May 2024Tragic: 2 students suicide cases in a day reported from Assam and Meghalaya
In one case, a student was found hanging in the Shillong Polytechnic women's hostel, in the other case, an NIT Silchar student died by hanging himself
06th May 2024Meghalaya: Power situation is comfortable, says MeECL Chairman
The MeECL CMD stated that rainfall is expected after the first week of June and that generation has been planned accordingly.
04th May 2024Shillong water crisis: Meghalaya CM treks for an hour to Um Jasai catchment area, takes stock of water situation
CM Conrad Sangma has urged people not to waste water and avoid economic activities near springs and catchment areas
04th May 2024Meghalaya staring at a water crisis, some regions go dry, Minister expresses concern
Most of the sources of Jal Jeevan Mission have dried up due to the depletion in the water level in the main reservoirs.
04th May 2024