Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has granted sanction for the prosecution under Section 45 (1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against acclaimed author Arundhati Roy and former central university professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain. This decision stems from an alleged provocative speech Roy delivered at a conference in 2010, according to officials familiar with the matter.
The case dates back to November 28, 2010, when the first information report (FIR) was filed based on directions from a metropolitan magistrate. The charges include sedition, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, and language, with assertions prejudicial to national integration.
The conference, titled ‘Azadi – The Only Way’, was organized by the ‘Committee for Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)’ at the LTG Auditorium in New Delhi. Apart from Roy and Hussain, other prominent figures such as Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Syed Abdul Rehman Geelani, and Varvara Rao were also present, as per officials.
In response to a recent proposal by the Delhi Police seeking prosecution under UAPA, LG Saxena granted sanction under the prescribed norms. Section 45 (1) of UAPA necessitates prior government sanction for any court to take cognisance of offenses related to unlawful activities.
According to a senior Delhi Police officer, Sushil Pandit filed a complaint alleging provocative speeches made at the conference advocating the separation of Kashmir from India. The complaint led to the submission of transcripts and multimedia evidence for forensic examination, confirming the functionality of submitted CDs and DVDs.
The process involved a review committee headed by a district judge or higher, independently evaluating the gathered evidence before recommending prosecution sanction to the LG. Despite the deaths of two accused, Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, during the case’s pendency, Roy remains a notable figure both for her literary contributions, particularly “The God of Small Things” (1997), and her activism in human rights and environmental causes.
As of now, no other cases are pending against Roy or Hussain, who could not be reached immediately for comment on the recent developments.
The granting of prosecution sanction marks a significant step in a complex legal and political context, reflecting ongoing scrutiny over freedom of expression and national security concerns in India.
