Author Arundhati Roy set to be tried under anti-terror law for Kashmir comments

Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Friday sanctioned the prosecution of author and activist Arundhati Roy under.

The stringent anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), in a case registered in 2010 over her comments on Kashmir. Approval has also been given to prosecute Sheikh Showkat Hussain, a former Professor of International Law at Central University of Kashmir, under the UAPA.

The FIR against Roy and Hussain was registered following an order of a Metropolitan Magistrate court in New Delhi, based on a complaint made by Sushil Pandit, a social activist from Kashmir, on October 28, 2010, according to Raj Bhavan officials.

“Roy and Hussain had allegedly made provocative speeches at a conference organised under the banner of ‘Azadi – The Only Way’ on 21.10.2010 at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi. The issues discussed and spoken about at the conference propagated the ‘separation of Kashmir from India’,” the Governor’s office said.

The Raj Bhavan, in October 2023, had granted sanction to prosecute them under section 196 of CrPC for commission of offences punishable under different sections of the Indian Penal Code153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 153B (imputations, assertions prejudicial to national-integration) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief).

Apart from Roy and Hussain, others who participated in the event included the late Kashmiri separatist Syed Ali Shah Geelani, former Delhi University lecturer SAR Geelani, who was acquitted in the Parliament attack case, and activist Varavara Rao.