Tripura Violence : Supreme Court Agrees To Give Urgent Listing To Petition Challenging UAPA Against Lawyers, Journalists

The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to urgently list a petition challenging the invocation of UAPA by the Tripura police against journalists, lawyers and activists over their social media posts regarding the recent communal violence in the State.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan mentioned the matter before a Bench comprising CJI NV Ramana, Justice AS Bopanna and Justice Hima Kohli seeking urgent listing of the case

"This is regarding incidents in Tripura & FIRs and 41 A notices issued to lawyers who went on Fact finding mission, as some tweeted that Tripura is Burning etc" Mr Bhushan said.

Mr Bhushan also informed the Court that the petition has challenged two provisions of UAPA which are being misused and abused at great deal, including the question of wide definition of Unlawful activities

"Why didn't you go before High Court" CJI asked?

Bhushan submitted that they've did not move the High court as they have challenged UAPA as well

"Please list it as these people are imminently under threat" Bhushan said.

"Circulate the bundle. Yes I'll give a date." CJI said

The Tripura police recently invoked the draconian anti-terror law Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) against two lawyers who were part of a team which published a fact-finding report about the recent communal violence which shook the state.

The West Agartala Police served notices to Delhi-based human rights lawyers Mukesh of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties and Ansar Indori of National Confederation of Human Rights stating that a case has been registered against them under Section 13(punishment for unlawful activities) of the UAPA over their social media posts and statements.

The police also served a UAPA notice to journalist Shyam Meera Singh for tweeting "Tripura Burning".

Click Here To Read The Petition