The Supreme Court of India on April 15 granted bail to noted human rights activist Dr. Binayak Sen, Vice-President of People’s Union for Civil Liberties, dropping sedition charges against him.
Mere possession of ‘Naxal literature’ does not make a person a Naxalite, guilty of sedition, as one who possesses Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography cannot call himself a Gandhian, observed the Supreme Court of India.
People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Gujarat said that sedition charges dropped by Supreme Court in Dr. Binayak Sen case has brought some hope for the ongoing movements of the downtrodden masses across the country.
Dr Binayak Sen was arrested from Bilaspur on May 14, 2007. He got bail after a long legal battle from Supreme Court on May 25, 2009. On December 24, 2010 he was convicted for sedition and sentenced to life imprisonment by Raipur Session Court. On January 24, 2011 the session court order was challenged in the Chhattisgarh High Court. But on February 10, 2011 his bail application was rejected by the Chhattisgarh High Court. On March 3, 2011 the Supreme Court admitted a Special Leave Petition (SLP). And now finally on April 15, 2011 division bench comprising of Justices H. S. Bedi and Justice C. K. Prasad of the Supreme Court granted him bail.
PUCL, Gujarat appreciated the observation by the Supreme Court that mere possession of ‘Naxal literature’ does not make a person a Naxalite, guilty of sedition, as one who possesses Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography cannot call himself a Gandhian, hopefully that will provide some relief to many of the human rights activists, journalists, adivasis, dalits and others lodged in different jails across the country under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Chhattisgarh Special Power Security Act (CSPSA), the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and many such repressive laws.
Indian American Muslim Council, an advocacy group dedicated to safeguard India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to Dr. Sen.
“Supreme Court’s move to drop sedation charges against Binayak Sen restores the credibility of India’s justice system that was severely damaged by the lower court earlier this year” said Mr. Shaheen Khateeb, President of IAMC in a statement on April 15.
“We commend the persistence of all our friends and coalition partners everywhere along with the 22 Nobel Laureates who campaigned for the past 4 years to demand Justice for Dr Sen.” Mr. Khateeb further added.
IAMC also demanded a thorough and expedited review by the Supreme Court of the alleged conviction of Dr. Sen and hoped that the apex court would intervene appropriately to right the many wrongs committed against Dr. Sen by the lower courts.