SC Comments as Kangana Drops Plea on Tweet During Farmers’ Protest

Speedy Summary

• Actor and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut withdrew her petition in the Supreme Court to quash a defamation complaint linked to her tweet during the 2020-21 farmers’ protest.
• The Supreme Court, led by justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, expressed reluctance to hear the plea, emphasizing that added comments in a retweet could not be addressed in quashing proceedings but rather in trial court.
• The defamation case was filed by Mahinder Kaur (73) from bathinda district, Punjab. She accused ranaut of making “false imputations” against her through remarks comparing her to another elderly protester at Shaheen Bagh.
• Kaur claimed these statements harmed her reputation as she actively participated in dharnas since the start of farmer protests against now-repealed farm laws.
• The Punjab and Haryana High Court earlier denied Ms.Ranaut’s bid to dismiss the complaint on August 1, stating allegations were specific and actionable under law.
• Ms. Ranaut’s counsel argued procedural violations occurred during lower court proceedings but were told clarifications could only be addressed during trial.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This legal advancement reflects pressing accountability issues connected with public discourse involving high-profile individuals on contentious matters like protests. While freedom of speech allows expression online among celebrities or politicians, this case highlights how such remarks might lead to litigation if they are deemed defamatory or could harm an individual’s reputation.

For India, it underscores challenges surrounding communication via social media platforms amid large-scale protests-how influential comments can amplify sensitivities for those directly involved in activism. importantly, procedural clarity remains vital; courts dismissing premature petitions indicate measured approaches prevail when adjudicating disputes involving public personalities versus grassroots activists.

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[Image caption: Kangana ranaut is facing a defamation case linked with tweets during farmers’ protests | Photo Credit: PTI]