SC criticises Jaya for muzzling opposition

24 August, New Delhi

The Supreme Court today criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa for using criminal defamation proceedings to silence criticism of her government’s functioning.

A bench, comprising justices Dipak Misra and C Nagappan observed, “this is not how a healthy democracy functions.

”You must face criticism if you are a public figure.”
The Apex Court said a government cannot be seen to use state machinery to file criminal defamation cases against political opponents.

Tamil Nadu government, the bench held, should concentrate on good governance instead of filing defamation cases against those who criticise it.

The Supreme Court made these observations while hearing a petition filed by DMDK chief A Vijaykanth seeking the quashing of a defamation case filed against him by the Tamil Nadu government and issued a notice to Ms Jayalalithaa.

Earlier also, the same bench had observed that the Tamil Nadu government had been using criminal defamation to stifle dissent and criticism.

Under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code, defamation is a criminal offence punishable with up to two years of imprisonment, a fine or both. Defamatory acts can include words either spoken or intended to be read, signs or visible representations, which are published or put up in the public domain.