Delhi LG’s Nod To Prosecute Author Arundhati Roy Under UAPA

Delhi Lt Governor V.K. Saxena has accorded sanction to prosecute author Arundhati Roy and a former professor in Kashmir under the stringent UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act) for allegedly making provocative speeches at an event in 2010. This is being seen as an attempt to silence voices critical of the government.

The FIR against former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussein and Roy was registered following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi.

The FIR in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on 28 October 2010. There was no immediate reaction from either Roy or Hussain.

A Raj Niwas official said on Friday, “Delhi Lt governor VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case.”

In October 2023, the LG had granted sanction to prosecute them under section 196 of CrPC for commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code: 505 (statements conducing to public mischief), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration).

Both Hussain and Roy had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of ‘Azadi – The Only Way’ on October 21, 2010, at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg in Delhi.

The official said, “The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India.”

The complaint was filed under Section 156 (3) of CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court, New Delhi, who disposed of the complaint on 27 November 2010, with directions to register an FIR.

Among those who delivered speeches at the conference were Arundhati Roy, Varavara Rao, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geelani (anchor of the Conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case) and Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain.