The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the criminal contempt proceedings against author and activist Arundhati Roy. The case was being…
Arundhati Roy (PHOTO: Facebook)
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the criminal contempt proceedings against author and activist Arundhati Roy.
The case was being heard by the Nagpur bench of the high court.
According to reports, on December 24, 2015, the Bombay High Court had issued a contempt criminal notice against Roy for criticising its decision to reject former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba’s bail plea.
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The Gadchiroli police had arrested Saibaba last year for alleged links with Maoists. He has been on bail since June, extended later till December 31.
Arundhati Roy had written an article supporting GN Saibaba when Nagpur bench of Bombay HC had refused to grant Saibaba bail.
The Bombay HC termed her language in the article 'nasty' and said her writing demonstrates the surly, rude and boorish attitude in a most tolerant country like India. The court said Roy appeared to believe that she was 'above the law'.
“Calling the government and police as being ‘afraid’ of the applicant, ‘abductor’ and ‘thief’, and the magistrate from a ‘small town’, demonstrate the surly, rude and boorish attitude of the author in a most tolerant country like India,” Justice A B Chaudhari of the HC’s Nagpur bench observed.
Earlier in March 2002, Supreme Court had convicted Arundhati Roy for contempt of court and had sentenced her to simple imprisonment of one day for her remarks against the judiciary in relation to the Narmada Bachao Andolan.
(With inputs from agencies)
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