S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Writ Petition (Civil) No.946/2017
K.L.N.V. VEERANJANEYULU Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
UNION OF INDIA & ORS. Respondent(s)
(With appln.(s) for permission to appear and argue in person)
Date : 13-10-2017 This petition was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON’BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE
HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE A.M. KHANWILKAR
HON’BLE DR. JUSTICE D.Y. CHANDRACHUD
For Petitioner(s)
Petitioner-in-person
For Respondent(s)
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following
O R D E R
Heard Mr. K.L.N.V. Veeranjaneyulu, the petitioner in-person. In this writ petition, the petitioner has prayed for a writ of mandamus to ban the book ‘Samajika Smugglurlu Komatollu’ written by Professor Kancha Ilaiah and further to ban chapter 9 of a book titled ‘Post-Hindu India’ and chapter 9 of ‘Hindutv-Mukt Bharat’.
We do not intend to state the facts in detail. Suffice it to say that when an author writes a book, it is his or her right of expression. We do not think that it would be appropriate under Article 32 of the Constitution of India that this Court should ban the book/books. Any request for banning a book of the present nature has to be strictly scrutinized because every author or writer has a fundamental right to speak out ideas freely and express thoughts adequately. Curtailment of an individual writer/author’s right to freedom of speech and expression should never be lightly viewed.
Keeping in view the sanctity of the said right and also bearing in mind that the same has been put on the highest pedestal by this Court, we decline the ambitious prayer made by the petitioner. The writ petition is, accordingly, dismissed.
(Chetan Kumar)
Court Master
(H.S. Parasher)
Assistant Registrar
