Facebook India chief has submitted that the Delhi Assembly's committee does not have the Authority to compel him to appear before it, since the same issue was already before a parliamentary panel. @AamAadmiParty@ArvindKejriwal@LtGovDelhi@raghav_chadha
.@secondatticus is set to argue that
"is no law that empowers a State Legislature, including a committee formed by that Legislature, to take coercive action against any person unless it obstructs or impedes its legislative functions." #DelhiRiots
Salve: Privilege is something to be decided by the Assembly. A committee cannot decide whether action on privilege can be taken or not.
(Salve highlights that non presence of Mohan was said to be deemed as "breach of privilege" in the summons)
Salve: This is a serious threat.
Salve: Important points we make are two fold ~
- I have a right u/A 19, and
- The Right to free speech includes right not to speak.
Salve: As a house you may decide whatever you want to do but if I do not want to participate and give my views before the Committee then... And please consider I work for a US based company. I do not want to comment on this politically sensitive issue.
Salve: Wall Street journal has accused Facebook of favouring a certain party but I don't want to get into all this.
My Constitutional rights under Articles 19 and 21 are violated when I am forced to come on oath and give my views.
Salve: As a house they may form whatever committee to look into an issue but when they are forcing me to come on oath and give me views and opinions and testify at the threat of punishment, this is completely contradictory.
Salve: Breach of privilege is not exception under Article 19(2). Contempt of court, yes.
Justice Kaul: What is proposition you are making for which you are citing the judgment? We cannot decide this issue finally at this point which is why we posed the question.
Rohatgi: In the press conference they said that incriminating material was not taken down. If it was not taken down, then everyone has right to move the Court for it.
Everyday Facebook is told to take down material that is in violation of the laws. They could have gone to Court.
Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi is now arguing on behalf of the Respondent.
Singhvi: The case they are trying to make out, cannot be made out.
Justice Kaul: As far as notice is concerned, we are going to issue it. You argue on protective order or relief to be given or not.
Singhvi: Privilege and coercion is projected to get orders from My Lords.
Justice Kaul: You have given them the chance to by sending the orders (summons)
Singhvi: This person is called ONLY AS A WITNESS and no coercive steps...
Justice Kaul: If you are trying to change the legal tenor then it must be in those terms. You may have to take a stand for this Committee... You may have to file an affidavit to clarify this.
Singhvi: The points I am making that can be taken on record are ~
1. only as a witness 2. No coercive action 3. Reason Facebook is called, not as an accused, but want to get safeguard measures from them as to how the platform will not be misused.
Singhvi: He is only being summoned as a witness.
Justice Kaul: This is not what you have said in the notices. You have advised them, advise them better and issue better notices.
Singhvi: I will rectify the order and address the deficiencies that are bothering My Lords.
Justice Kaul: I'm sure you will be able to remedy the notice. And in that press conference, if you have said those things, then you will have to take a stand.
Singhvi argues that the transcript of the press conference read out is misleading because it intended to show that Facebook was misused.
Singhvi urges the Court to record his submissions and points out that Ajit Mohan was required to be present before the Committee today at 3. On account of the hearing, the meeting is deferred.
Singhvi assures the Court that he will file an affidavit addressing all the issues.
#SupremeCourt issues notice on Ajit Mohan's petition.
Court gives one weeks' time to the respondent to file counter affidavit.
Supreme Court records that the Committee will not hold a meeting qua this petition till further orders.
Ceremonial bench proceedings underway to mark the last working day of Justice Abhay S Oka
AG R Venkataramani: All of us got equal treatment in your court. I have cherished the questioning moments. By working so tirelessly you have set bad standards for your law clerks as some even forgot to go home..
SG Tushar Mehta: Despite such an irreparable loss you treated duty as a judge first. You could have addressed virtually also. This shows duty. Please spare more time for family. You have often been much more prepared than lawyers. Your lordships services are required and please do not close any door
.
SG: you may not believe in God, but i believe, May God be always on your side. Me and ASG Raju were almost always at the wrong side of the judgment ..but our love and respect for you was never affected. We respect your for who you are.
Delhi High Court to shortly hear a defamation suit filed by Newslaundry Executive Editor Manisha Pande and eight other women journalists against Abhijit Iyer-Mitra for referring to them as βprostitutesβ and their workplace as a βbrothel.β
Advocate Bani Dixit appears for Newslaundry journalists. She says "Plaintiffs are journalists from all walks of life. These are defamatory articles outside the bounds of criticism. These are all working women."
Court: What does the defendant do ?
Dixit: The kind of things he has said I cannot read it out also.
Supreme Court to shortly hear a petition challenging the arrest of Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor at Ashoka University, Sonipat, over certain remarks onΒ Operation Sindoor
Supreme Court bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai would hear the petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 on May 20, for the limited purpose of interim relief
#SupremeCourt #WaqfAct
The bench will consider whether interim relief of stay is required on three issues - waqf by user, nomination of non-Muslims to the Wakf Council and State Waqf Boards and identification of government land under waqf #WaqfAct
The Central government had earlier told the Supreme Court that certain key provisions of the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, including the formation of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards and provisions on de-notifying properties already declared or registered as waqf, will not be acted upon for the time being.
#Bombay High Court is set to shortly hear stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra's plea seeking quashing of the FIR filed over his 'Gaddar' remark allegedly directed at Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.
@kunalkamra88
A bench of Justice Sarang Kotwal and Justice S M Modak had earlier adjourned the matter to today, April 16, after taking note of the interim protection granted to Kamra by the Madras High Court.
On April 7, the Madras High Court had extended Kamraβs interim protection from arrest till April 17, while hearing his transit anticipatory bail application.