Delhi Lt Governor Sanctions Prosecution of Arundhati Roy Under UAPA for 2010 Speech

News Mania Desk/ Agnibeena Ghosh/19th June 2024

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has authorized the prosecution of renowned author Arundhati Roy under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for a speech she delivered at an event in 2010, as reported by PTI News. The event, organized by the Committee for Release of Political Prisoners under the banner ‘Azadi-The Only Way,’ took place on October 21, 2010.

Arundhati Roy, along with Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former Professor of International Law at the Central University of Kashmir, was one of the speakers at the conference. The FIR registered against them accused both of making provocative speeches at the event. According to a Raj Niwas official, “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.”

In October 2023, Saxena had already granted permission to prosecute Roy and Hussain under Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) for offenses punishable under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These sections include 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).

During her speech at the Little Theatre Group (LTG) Auditorium on Copernicus Marg in New Delhi, Roy stated, “Look, Kashmir has never been an integral part of India. However aggressively and however often you want to ask me that…”. This statement triggered significant controversy, leading to protests at her home by BJP Mahila Morcha members who demanded that she retract her statement or leave the country.

Arundhati Roy, a celebrated author-activist whose novel “God of Small Things” won the 1997 Booker Prize, is known for her outspoken criticism of authorities and advocacy for free speech. Fourteen years after her controversial statement on Kashmir, she and Hussain now face prosecution under the stringent anti-terror law, UAPA, for their speeches.

This development follows the Lt Governor’s previous authorization in October to take the case to court under Section 196 of CrPC for offenses punishable under various IPC sections. Despite considering sedition charges, these were not filed in light of the Supreme Court’s May 2022 order on the validity of the colonial-era law.

Roy has long been a vocal critic of oppression, using her literary works and speeches to challenge authoritative narratives. Her extensive writings from the nineties and early 2000s evolved from critiques of capitalist development to broader political questions. In her 2020 essay collection “Azadi,” Roy reflects on the meaning of freedom amidst “growing authoritarianism.” Her other notable works include “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness,” “My Seditious Heart,” “The End of Imagination,” and “The Doctor and the Saint.”

The prosecution of Roy has sparked significant opposition and criticism, with many labeling the move as unconstitutional and undemocratic. As the investigation continues, the case remains a focal point of debate regarding free speech and state authority in India.