A petition has been filed before the apex court and has sought for quashing of FIRs registered by the Delhi Police against those individuals who have allegedly put up posters criticising the manner in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is handling the pandemic and the national vaccination policy.
The posters put up the individuals’ asked PM Narendra Modi as to why were the vaccines, which were meant for children, sent to foreign countries.
The petition has stressed upon the fact that citizens’ have freedom of speech and expression enshrined under Article 19(1)(a) and the act of Delhi Police has unreasonably restricted the exercise of this freedom.
The petitioner, an advocate, has sought for directions to not allow Delhi Police register any FIR against the brochures, advertisements or posters against COVID-19. In addition to this, petitioner has also sought for the records based on which such FIRs has been registered.
The petitioner cited the media reports which stated that on the basis of FIRs registered at different police stations, the Delhi Police has arrested 25 persons as they were alleged to be the key players behind such posters.
The said FIRs had been registered under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code which deals with disobedience against an order duly promulgated by a public servant and under Section 3 of Prevention of Defacement of Property Act.
Even though a majority of arrested persons have been released on bail as the FIRs had been registered under bailable offences, the petitioner has sought for restricting such unreasonable arrests which had been conducted for exercising freedom under Article 19(1)(a) of Constitution of India.
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