The Supreme Court on Friday sought the government's response on a plea filed by a media professionals’ organisation challenging the constitutional validity of certain provisions including penal laws on defamation.
“Issue notice. A copy of this petition be served on the office of the Attorney General of India in course of the day. Let the matter be listed along with Writ Petition ... on July 14,” a Bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C ordered.
The court is already hearing similar pleas of political leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Subramanian Swamy and Arvind Kejriwal. They have challenged the validity of sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the IPC on the ground that these provisions violate freedom of speech and expressions.
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The petition was filed by the Foundation For Media Professionals through its Director Manoj Mitta.
Besides the penal laws on defamation, the foundation has sought quashing of sections 199(1) and 199(2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which deal with the procedures of prosecution in criminal defamation cases.