[ad_1]
GRANTING BAIL to a Punjab resident who was booked for sedition after he went dwell on Facebook and allegedly criticised the functioning of the federal government throughout lockdown, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stated, “In a democracy, every citizen has the right to voice his/her opinion freely and criticise the functioning of the government. However, the same should be done in a decent manner and unparliamentary language should not be adopted.”
The statement was made by the only bench of Justice Sudhir Mittal, whereas deciding the bail plea of Jasbir alias Jasvir Singh, a resident of Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
According to the FIR registered in opposition to Jasbir on April 14 this 12 months, “the petitioner went live on Facebook and made statements against the unity and integrity of the nation. His statements were also aimed at causing communal disaffection. Thus, the aforementioned FIR was registered inter alia for offences of sedition, hurting religious sentiments and causing communal disaffection”.
The FIR was lodged at Tanda police station, Hoshiarpur district, below sections 115, 124-A, 153-A, 505 (2), 295, 188, 269, 270, 271, 506 of IPC, part three of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and part 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Jasbir’s counsel, advocate Jasraj Singh, submitted that the petitioner has been in custody for over six months now. The chargesheet was offered on July 9 but prices have but not been framed because the committal order has not been handed, so the trial shouldn’t be seemingly to be concluded at an early date. There is not any different felony case pending in opposition to the petitioner. An examination of the utterances made by the petitioner exhibits that the offences of sedition and inciting communal disaffection are usually not attracted, so the petitioner could also be granted common bail, the advocate said.
Justice Mittal, after going by the transcript of the Facebook Live session of the petitioner, stated, “It appears that the petitioner was unhappy with the lockdown… and the way the pandemic was being handled by the Government of India as well as the Punjab government. Thus, he has criticised the functioning of the said governments. Definitely, intemperate and abusive language has been used… but the same does not amount to exciting disaffection towards the government… It also does not amount to inciting religious disaffection or disruption of communal harmony.”
The HC ordered that Jasbir be launched on common bail on his furnishing bail and surety bonds to the satisfaction of the trial courtroom/obligation Justice of the Peace involved, as he has been in custody for six months and 14 days and the trial shouldn’t be seemingly to be concluded at an early date.
[ad_2]
Source