The Supreme Court on Monday issued a notice to the Gujarat government on political analyst Ashis Nandy's plea seeking a stay on his arrest and criminal proceedings related to an FIR lodged against him for his article in a national daily.
A Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and G S Singhvi posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday, asking the state government to provide it details about the FIRs lodged against Nandy in connection with the article which allegedly had a communal tone.
The order was passed by the Bench after the state government's counsel Hemantika Wahi said that the Gujarat High Court was already seized of similar petitions in which the quashing of five such FIRs has been sought by the Delhi-based scholar.
However, her submission was countered by senior advocate V K Kanth, appearing for Nandy, who said no such petition was filed. During the brief hearing, contrasting remarks came from the Bench. While Justice Kabir observed that "they (the Gujarat government) have found a soft target," Justice Singhvi stated that "luckily he (Nandy) has not called all Gujaratis man-eaters".
Nandy had moved the apex court as the Delhi High Court earlier refused to provide him interim protection against arrest and had only issued a notice to the Gujarat Government.
The scholar has also sought quashing of the FIR lodged by the Ahmedabad Police on a complaint filed by V K Saxena, President of an NGO, National Council for Civil Liberties .