Tandav: Freedom Of Speech Not Absolute, You Can't Hurt Religious Sentiments Observes Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court today heard the plea filed by makers of web series Tandav for Staying & Clubbing of the FIR's registered against them in six states over hurting religious sentiments.

Although Supreme Court issued a notice on a plea of 'Tandav' makers and actors to club several FIRs registered against them in six states. The court refused to grant protection to actor Mohd Zeeshan Ayyub, Amazon Prime Video (India) & makers of ‘Tandav’, from arrest in several FIRs against them & asked them to approach High Court for anticipatory bail or quashing of FIRs.

While refusing to grant interim protection the Apex Court made it very clear that in No way one is allowed to hurt religious sentiments of the people & though the Freedom of Speech enriched under Art.19(1)(a) may be fundamental but it's not Absolute & comes with certain restrictions.

The petitioners' Advocates tried to persuade the court for interim protection by referring to similar orders granted in cases of Arnab Goswami' & 'Amish Devgan in which it Supreme court allowed interim protection from arrest during the pendency of hearing without quashing FIR's. However, the court didn't grant the prayer & also orally remarked during the hearing that religious sentiments cannot be hurt.

Advocates for petitioners also submitted that nothing survives in the matter as the objectionable parts of the series, that hurt the "so-called religious sentiments" of people, had been removed.

On being inquired as to why the petitioners had not approached the High Court first, petitioners counsel submitted, "FIRs are filed in 6 states. And it's increasing every day the petitioners live in Bombay & why should they go to different states.

Counsel cited Arnab Goswami case to move the apex court after a violation of Article 19(1)(a). He added people get offended with anything and everything these days. "Please protect us with no coercive steps. We deleted content without any protest. Petitioners Advocates further added Article 19(1) (a) is the most jealously guarded right. It must be protected. This was also held in the Arnab Goswami case & Even though we admit that we have not done anything wrong. It is a political satire. If people are so sensitive in everything, then art, cinema, TV all will be destroyed.'

To Sum it all up The Supreme Court has indirectly made it very clear that hurting religious sentiments of people, intentional or not will no longer be tolerated & this should send a strong message to OTT & various other media platforms to not portray any religion in bad light or else they'll have to face the music.