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“Can’t keep him in jail even for a day:” Supreme Court orders release of activist charged for FB post criticising use of Cow dung as COVID cure

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"Can't keep him in jail even for a day:" Supreme Court orders release of activist charged for FB post criticising use of Cow dung as COVID cure

Manipuri activist Erendro Leichombam was booked under the National Security Act and kept in preventive detention for a Facebook post criticising BJP leaders for advocating cow-dung and cow-urine as cures for COVID.

The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the release of Manipuri activist Erendro Leichombam, who was booked under the National Security Act (NSA) for a Facebook post criticising Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for advocating cow-dung and cow-urine as cures for COVID.

A Bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said that the person cannot be kept in jail even for a day for such an act.

“He cannot be kept in jail even for a day. We will order his release today,” said Justice Chandrachud.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, told the Court that he will take instructions and requested that the matter be listed tomorrow but the Bench remained adamant that it will grant interim relief today.

The Court the proceeded to pass the order releasing him.

“We are of the view that continued detention of the petitioner would be a violation of right ti life and personal liberty under Article 21. We accordingly direct that the petitioner shall be released forthwith subject to interim directions of this court and subject to further orders and him filing a personal bond of Rs. 1,000,” the Court ordered.

The order has to be complied with on or before 5 pm today, the Court added.

Leichombam, who holds a postgraduate degree in public administration from Harvard University and is a former associate of activist Irom Sharmila, had for long spoken against state repression and militarisation, according to reports.

The plea filed in Supreme Court by his father, L Raghumani Singh through advocate Shadan Farasat stated that the detention of the activist is a reprisal for his criticism against Bharatiya Janata Party leaders for advocating cow-dung and cow-urine as cures for COVID.

“Erendro, a Manipuri political activist, has been preventively detained solely to punish him for his criticism of Bhartiya Janta Party (“BJP”) leaders for advocating cow-dung and cow-urine as cures for COVID,” the petition said.

It is a shocking instance of misuse of preventive detention law to stifle completely innocuous speech that is fully constitutionally protected and was made in public interest, the petition further stated.

It was also submitted that the detention of the activist was in contempt of the April 30, 2021 order of the Supreme Court in the suo motu case of COVID-19 in which a Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud had observed that no one should be punished for critiquing COVID policies over social media.

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Material interests will have to be made subservient to the existence of the species: Justice DY Chandrachud speaks on Climate Change

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Justice Chandrachud also gave the example of climate change activist, Greta Thunberg to point out that nobody is too young or too insignificant to make a difference on this planet.

We are in the midst of an accelerated climate crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that ecological disruption exacerbates existing inequalities, Justice DY Chandrachud observed on Saturday.null

On the issue of climate change, Justice Chandrachud added,

“To combat this climate change crisis, we will require global action at an unprecedented rate and an engaged citizen rate with participation especially from students. Material interests will have to be made subservient to the existence of a species.”

He went on to give the example of climate change activist, Greta Thunberg to point out that nobody is too young or too insignificant to make a difference on this planet and said,

“Greta Thunberg, who is one of the strongest voices in civil society since climate change began her journey as a lone 15 year old, sitting outside the Swedish Parliament demanding action against the risks of global warming. Her example in addition to that of many others shows us that no one is too young or too insignificant to effectuate a big change”, he said.

Justice Chandrachud also gave his own example to instil the audience with hope that nobody is too old to make a difference either.

“My learning for life at this age if I may say so is that you’re never too old to become successful either,” the apex Court judge added.

Justice DY Chandrachud concluded his address with a quote from legal academician and philosopher Martha Nussbaum who had said,

“It would be catastrophic to become a nation of technically competent people who have lost the ability to think critically, to examine themselves and respect the humanity and diversity of others.”

The Judge was speaking at the 101st birth anniversary celebrations of his father and former Supreme Court judge, Justice YV Chandrachud. The event was organised by Shikshana Prasaraka Mandali.