Saurav Das
Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP) spokesperson Saurav Das has said that the criminal justice system should not be used against protesters merely for using derogatory or objectionable language during demonstrations. His remarks came amid the controversy surrounding alleged abusive slogans raised during a recent protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar.
Das argued that anyone who feels insulted by such remarks has the legal right to pursue civil or criminal defamation proceedings against the individual responsible. However, he maintained that invoking the broader criminal justice machinery against protesters would have a chilling effect on free speech and democratic dissent.
“The language may be objectionable, but that alone is no reason to invoke the criminal justice machinery,” Das said, while urging young protesters to exercise restraint in their choice of words. He also appealed to law enforcement agencies to avoid misusing legal powers for political purposes.
The controversy follows the registration of a Zero FIR against a Noida resident over allegedly derogatory remarks directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the July 23 NEET paper leak protest at Jantar Mantar. The case has intensified the debate over the balance between freedom of expression and legal accountability for offensive speech.
Das reiterated that while offensive language should be discouraged, criminal prosecution should not become the default response to political speech during protests. His remarks have added a new dimension to the ongoing national discussion on free speech, protest rights and the limits of criminal law.
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