Delhi LG Approves Prosecution Of Author Arundhati Roy Under UAPA

The FIR against Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain was filed following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi.

Delhi Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena on Friday granted sanction to prosecute author Arundhati Roy and a former professor from Kashmir under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for allegedly making proactive speeches at an event in 2010, news agency PTI reported citing Raj Niwas officials. The FIR against Roy and former Central University of Kashmir professor Sheikh Showkat Hussain was filed following the orders of the Court of Metropolitan Magistrate, New Delhi.

The complaint that led to the FIR was lodged by social activist Sushil Pandit on October 28, 2010. "Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena has sanctioned the prosecution of Arundhati Roy and former Professor of International Law in the Central University of Kashmir, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain, under section 45 (1) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the case," the Raj Niwas official told PTI. 

In October of the previous year, the LG had granted sanctions to prosecute them under section 196 of the CrPC for offenses punishable under various sections of the Indian Penal Code: 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts of prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputattions, assertions prejudicial to national integration), and 505 (statements conducting to public mischief). 

Roy and Hussain allegedly delivered proactive speeches at the 'Azadi - The Only Way' conference on October 21, 2010, at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, in New Delhi. "The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the separation of Kashmir from India," the official told PTI. 

Speakers at the conference included Syed Ali Shah Geelani, SAR Geeliani (anchor of the conference and prime accused in the Parliament attack case), Arundhati Roy, Dr Sheikh Showkat Hussain, and Varavara Rao. 

Following the complaint filed under Section 156(3) of CrPC before the Metropolitan Magistrate Court, New Delhi, the court directed the registration of an FIR on November 27, 2010. Accordingly, an FIR was registered, and an investigation was carried out, the PTI report said. 

There was no immediate response from Roy and Hussain regarding the prosecution sanction.