SC makes Maharashtra govt a party in Shobhaa De plea

The author has challenged the Maharashtra government's privilege notice against her tweets on its decision to make exhibition of Marathi films mandatory in multiplexes.

Mumbai, Maharashtra, 13/04/2015: Writer Shobhaa De. Photo: Vivek Bendre (file photo March 2014)

The Supreme Court on Friday made Maharashtra government a party to a petition filed by author Shobhaa De challenging the breach of privilege motion notice of State Assembly against her for tweets on a decision to make exhibition of Marathi films mandatory in multiplexes.

A bench comprising Justices Dipak Misra and Prafulla C. Pant accepted the submission of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that the state be made a party for enabling it to contest the plea and assist the court.

The Supreme Court had on April 28 stayed the breach of privilege motion notice issued against her by the Assembly.

The court had then taken serious note of the fallout suffered by the writer for tweets expressing her views as a citizen in a democracy.

“It has never been so extreme in our country. All she is accused of tweets, she has been tweeting a lot and has been satirical,” senior advocate C.A. Sundaram, representing Ms. De, had submitted.

Legislature Principal Secretary had issued a Notice of Violation of Rights dated April 10 to Ms. De, asking her to explain her tweets about the decision to make it mandatory for multiplexes to screen Marathi movies during prime time.

The notice came following a breach of privilege motion moved by Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in the State Assembly against Ms. De, saying her tweets insulted the Legislature, Marathi people and language.

The columnist had tweeted, “Devendra 'Diktatwala' Fadnavis is at it again!!! From beef to movies. This is not the Maharashtra we all love! Nako!Nako! Yeh sab roko!”

“She has not only teased Chief Minister Shri Devendra Phadnavis in her twitter but also mentioned that the government is indulging in Dadagiri and targeting the government... In Maharashtra all Marathi people eat dahi and vada pav tastefully and she has compared Marathi cinema with Hindi cinema and insulted Marathi language,” the letter to Ms. De from the notice Legislature Principal Secretary said.

Mr. Sundaram argued that the tweets are to be perceived as a comment on the government and does not come anywhere near the periphery of the functions or affect the privilege of the State Legislature.