Plea In Calcutta High Court Seeks Action Against Author Arundhati Roy For Saying 'India Is Becoming A Hindu Fascist Enterprise'

The Calcutta High Court on Monday heard a plea against author Arundhati Roy, for alleged statements made by her to Middle-Eastern media house, Al Jazeera. Petitioner claimed that Roy had given an interview to Al Jazeera where she had claimed that 'India was becoming a fascist Hindu enterprise.'

In observing that the plea had not been effectively served on the respondents, a division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya directed for it to be listed after service had been effected on the respondents, including Twitter Inc. whose name had since changed to 'X Corp.'

It was submitted by the petitioner that Roy had shared such statements with Al Jazeera, which was allegedly a spokesperson of the Al Qaeda of Osama Bin Laden.

She has millions of followers. India is one of the only secular countries in the world, yet she has spoken to Al Jazeera and called the Indian government a 'Hindu Fascist enterprise.' The governmentt has the people's mandate, and Al Jazeera is a spokesperson of the Al Qaeda of Osama Bin Laden. Her speech will be shared thousands of times, and the famous actor Prakash Raj has also called Hindus fascist. Hindus are not fascist, we have learnt dharma rakshite rakshita which means we protect our dharma and it protects us, the petitioner stated. 

Upon hearing the plea, the Chief Justice questioned the petitioners on whether an identical plea had been raised before the Delhi High Court. It was further stated that the service had not been effected upon all the respondents and that the respondent Twitter Inc. would have to be freshly arrayed as X Corp in the writ petition. 

Counsel for the petitioner was of the view that these observations 'don't make any sense.'

In taking exception to these remarks, the plea was adjourned after service had been completed, and the Chief Justice orally rebuked: 

"Are you calling us senseless? Or the State counsel? Never use that word, how long have you been in practice? From 2006? Don't use these expressions even in a Magistrates court, they can initiate criminal contempt. You are before the first court in a chartered High Court, the oldest in India. You better mind your language. List after effective service is completed."

The plea was moved by Advocates Mita Banerjee Ray and Barun Kumar Ray.

Case: Advocate Mita Banerjee v Twitter, Twitter Communications India Private Limited, and others.