Even as the country is going through the process of Lok Sabha elections, West Bengal CM, Mamata Banerjee received a big blow even as the apex court fined the West Bengal government to the tune of Rs. 20 lakh. The fine has been imposed over the issue of shadow banning a political satire ‘Bhobishyoter Bhoot’. In what must have come as a massive embarrassment for the Mamata government, the Supreme Court went on to observe, “free speech can’t be silenced for the fear of the mob”.
The movie had been duly certified but it had to be pulled out of several theatres after the Kolkata Joint Commissioner of Police wrote to the theatres about how the movie could create political law and order situation. The Supreme Court has now rightly penalised the West Bengal government for how it has openly violated the freedom to speech enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.
The Supreme Court also expressed concern about the issue of intolerance towards artistic freedom and remarked, “Don’t watch a film, don’t turn the pages of the book, don’t hear what’s not music to the ears…but you cannot curb freedom of the others.” The Court defined the act as “insidious” and also held that the police cannot be the self-appointed guardian of morality authority. Justice Chandrachud said, “They can’t suppress dissent and freedom to speech and expression…Arbitrary exercise of powers by the State can’t be permitted. This case exposes the dangers of scuttling freedom to speech and expression.”
Justice Hemant Gupta opined, “There is growing intolerance in the society…(but) popular opinions can’t decide what is to be shown as artistic expressions and what not. Art is as much for mainstream as it is for the margins.” Coming down heavily on the West Bengal government, the Court observed, “You can’t put curbs on fundamental human freedom. Organised interests can’t threaten the freedom of theatre owners, artists.”
It is absolutely bizarre how the West Bengal government went on to impose curbs on the movie on an imaginary premise of the political law and order problem. In fact, even if there is a law and order situation, the State is supposed to manage it and ensure that the fundamental rights and liberties of any of the citizens are not violated unnecessarily. However, the Mamata government seems to care little about constitutional and democratic values.
Mamata Banerjee’s dictatorial attitude is no hidden fact. However, this development exposes her squarely. She is a real threat to the Indian democracy and constitutional principles. It is now up to the people of West Bengal to remove her from power and banish her electorally for such dictatorial conduct.