(FM Bharat) - A judge of the Bombay High Court made a significant observation, stating that protesting is a constitutional right of citizens. If someone raises slogans such as "Down with the BJP government" or "Down with Amit Shah," action like externment cannot be taken against them solely on that basis. Protesting is a constitutional right of citizens.

 

According to the Live Law website, Bombay High Court Justice Madhav Jamdar made this observation on Thursday while hearing a petition filed by Saeed Ahmed Abdul Waheed Chaudhary challenging an order exterring him from the area for one year. Justice Jamdar also quashed the externment order issued by the Mumbai Police against the 49-year-old Saeed. Saeed is the General Secretary of the Socialist Democratic Party of India (SDPI) and has organized marches and sit-in protests against various decisions of the central government.

 

According to the record, the externment order was based on five FIRs registered against Saeed. Most of these cases were related to protests against the central government's policies. These included demonstrations against the amendment to the citizenship law and the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute.

 

Justice Madhav Jamdar observed that opposing government decisions cannot be grounds for exterring a citizen from an area. The court said that protesting against the government and raising slogans are rights guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution, and externment action cannot be taken against someone solely for that reason.

 

During the hearing, Justice Jamdar strongly objected to the Mumbai Police's action, saying that a citizen cannot be punished merely for raising slogans against the government or opposing its decisions. The court stated that if someone raises slogans such as "Down with the BJP government" or "Down with Amit Shah," action like externment cannot be taken against them solely on that basis. The judge said that protesting is a constitutional right of citizens.

 

Justice Jamdar further remarked that all citizens are being made slaves of the Government of India. "They cannot protest, they cannot agitate. What is all this? So many paper leaks have happened now. If people protest, you will file cases against them—what is this? Protesting is a right of citizens."