Free expression

A week or so back, a court dismissed a public interest litigation. It was no landmark judgment in that sense. But it had a message for many morally-upright people in this hallowed land. The Delhi High Court on July 29 dismissed two petitions that sought a stay on the reality show Sach Ka Saamna. The court was clear in what it said, "Our culture is not so fragile that it would be affected by one TV programme." The point is not whether the reality show is good, bad, or ugly. But why many in this...

The Greek version of the show was banned in June. Now its desi spinoff, called Sach Ka Saamna, might meet the same fate if politicians have their say. Some snippets: Samajwadi Party MP Kamal Akthar raised the matter in Rajya Sabha today, alleging that “obscene questions” were being asked about contestants’ personal life in front of their family members. He said the show was against the “Indian culture”. [ Link] The Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which issued the notice, has sought a...

Four women's colleges in Kanpur have ordered a ban on girls wearing jeans and top, arguing that this will help reduce incidents of eve-teasing. They were also barred from carrying mobile phones while women teachers were asked not to wear sleeveless blouses. Says the Times of India: [ Link] Describing it as an "undemocratic" and "unconstitutional" move, All India Democratic Women's Association president and former CPI(M) MP Subhashini Ali said that she has come to know that principals in all...

For Sushmita Sen, the chastity bogey is back. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed a judicial magistrate to inquire into a complaint filed against Sen for making "obscene and derogatory comments" on chastity in October 2006. [ Link] Setting aside a lower court order dismissing a complaint by an advocate seeking police action against Sen, a former Miss Universe, Justice A Selvam directed that the inquiry be held for offences under various sections of Indecent Representation of...

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was arrested and later released on bail for allegedly indulging in obscene behaviour during a fashion show in March in Mumbai. From the Indian Express: [ Link] "Akshay, who arrived in Mumbai from abroad, surrendered before the police today. He was accompanied by his lawyer," a senior police officer said. "He was then arrested under section 294 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code for his alleged obscene behaviour," the officer added. Akshay's wife Twinkle was also...

You may not agree with the school of though that the Hindu Makkal Katchi (HMK) propounds. But you will agree that it has some semblance of a civilised way of protesting. The party on April 19 sent a parcel containing sarees to South Indian film actress Nayanthara to protest against her visit to the Killikavu Amman temple near Ottapalam in Kerala wearing salwar kameez, the Indian Express reports. [ Link] Nayanthara who went to the temple on Wednesday was reportedly prevented from entering the...

Actor Akshay Kumar's wife Twinkle Khanna was arrested by the police in Mumbai six days after a case was registered against the couple for allegedly indulging in an obscene act during a fashion show, but the former actress was released on bail. Details from the Indian Express: [ Link] Twinkle went to Vakola police station with a lawyer last night and surrendered. Police arrested her but she was immediately released on a bail bond of Rs 950. She told police that Akshay was abroad on a professional...

This small incident almost went unnoticed: [ Link] Days after they fled their home in Bihar and set a lover’s nest in the Dhobi Mohalla here (in Jalandhar), a man and wife, both minors, became victims of moral policing when their neighbours assaulted them and blackened their faces before parading them in the locality on Sunday night. Police conducted raids on Monday, after Ram Parvesh, the victim, lodged a complaint. “We have booked four persons for inflicting atrocities on the couple and...

The Bangalore police arrested 101 young people, including 37 foreigners, violating the Karnataka Excise Act for illegal sale of liquor. They were arrested from a place on the outskirts of the city. That, of course, can be a valid charge. However, the police also booked them for obscene acts and songs in a public place. This is where it gets interesting. Obscene acts? At a private farmhouse party? From the Times of India: [ Link] The attempt to nail them on the charge of obscenity smacks of...

Anyone with some amount of power can play the moral police these days. Just as the personnel of a private security agency have been doing at the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park in Hyderabad, says a report in the Hindu. Details: [ Link] David Shulman, renowned professor from Hebrew University and Suchitra Seth, an academician from Ahmedabad, were meeting after a long time and wished to take a post-breakfast stroll inside the park. However, security guards at the gate did not take kindly to...