Arundhati Roy to face trial under UAPA: What you need to know

New Delhi: The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, VK Saxena, has sanctioned the prosecution of renowned author and activist Arundhati Roy under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The charges stem from remarks she made about Kashmir during a conference in 2010. The case against Roy, along with Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former Professor of International Law at Central University of Kashmir, originated from an event titled 'Azadi - The Only Way.' 

Held on October 21, 2010, at LTG Auditorium in New Delhi, the conference included discussions that allegedly promoted the idea of Kashmir's separation from India. This event sparked controversy and led to legal action against several participants.

Social activists filed complaint 

The complaint that initiated the case was lodged by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on October 28, 2010. Acting on his complaint, a Metropolitan Magistrate Court in New Delhi directed the police to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Roy and Hussain in November 2010.

Delhi LG, VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain. The FIR in the matter was registered on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit on 28.10.2010. Roy and Hussain had… pic.twitter.com/HzvVcCayg7

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2024

Who all were present at LTG Auditorium?

The conference also featured other notable figures, including Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani, former Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani, and activist Varavara Rao. All three have since passed away as the case continued.

Legal proceedings

The Raj Bhavan granted approval for prosecution under Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in October 2023. Roy and Hussain are to be prosecuted for offenses under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC):

• Section 153A: Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and committing acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.
• Section 153B: Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.
• Section 505: Statements conducive to public mischief.

Statements from Governor's office

According to officials from the Governor's office, Roy and Hussain allegedly made provocative speeches during the conference. These speeches were said to propagate the separation of Kashmir from India, leading to the current legal actions.

Netizens reaction

The sanctioning of prosecution has elicited varied reactions from different quarters. Supporters of Roy view the charges as an attempt to stifle dissent and intellectual freedom, while others believe that such statements cannot go unchecked given the volatile nature of Kashmir's political landscape.