Watch your words: SC to Ashis Nandy

The SC on Friday granted protection from arrest to eminent sociologist Ashis Nandy but disapproved of his alleged “anti-dalit” remarks made at the Jaipur-Lit Fest. Bhadra Sinha reports.

The SC on Friday granted protection from arrest to eminent sociologist Ashis Nandy but disapproved of his alleged “anti-dalit” remarks made at the Jaipur-Lit Fest.

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“An idea can be punished by law if it hurts somebody’s sentiments,” observed a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir during the hearing of Nandy’s petition that sought quashing of FIRs registered against him.

The court also advised Nandy to refrain from repeating his comments.

“Freedom of speech doesn’t give anyone the liberty to hurt anybody’s sentiments,” the bench noted, issuing notice to Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and the Union of India and gave them four weeks’ to respond.