'Provocative' song case: 'Right of person to express views must be respected', says SC

The Supreme Court on Friday (March 28, 2025) held that the fundamental right of persons to freely express themselves through poetry, theatre, stage shows, satire and art must be cherished while quashing a hate speech case registered by the Gujarat Police against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi for his poem about “suffering injustice with love”.

A Bench of Justices AS Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan said free speech and expression, the most precious of rights in a liberal, Constitutional democracy should not fall prey to people crippled by insecurity who view every criticism or dissent as a threat to their power and position.

Justice Bhuyan explained to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the “reasonable restrictions” on free speech must remain reasonable.