SC rejects PIL against Abdullah
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking action against former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah for making statements against the scrapping of Article 370.
The bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul observed that the expression of views that are different from the opinion of the government cannot be termed seditious.
The PIL filed by petitioners Rajat Sharma and Neh Srivastava was against the National Conference leader’s remarks on the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. It also alleged that the Abdullah sought help from Pakistan and China against India on the matter.
While dismissing the plea, the Apex Court also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on the petitioners for failing to substantiate the allegations made in the litigation.
The plea cited alleged remarks made by Abdullah that he sought help of China and Pakistan against India on Article 370.
The plea contended that Abdullah’s statement is anti-national and seditious and government should be directed to take appropriate action declaring him as underserving candidate to be a member of Parliament.
