Delhi LG grants sanction to prosecute Arundhati Roy under UAPA

In what is being seen as an attempt to silence voices critical of the government, 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.

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

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

"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," a Raj Niwas official said on Friday.

Last October, 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: 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), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).

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

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

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

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