Refrain from hate speech against Stalin, CVe Shanmugam told

THE Madras High Court has asked senior AIADMK leader and Rajya Sabha Member CVe Shanmugam to refrain from making 'hate speech' against Chief Minister MK Stalin while addressing public forum even though he is entitled to level criticism on public issues owing to freedom of speech and expression as enshrined in the Constitution.

- R SIVAKUMAR @ Chennai

Noting that he had held posts of an MLA and a minister for 10 years and is currently an MP, Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan, in a recent order, said Shanmugam should show responsibility while criticising the chief minister.

He explained, "The petitioner (Shanmugam) has the right of freedom of speech and expression and hold public meetings under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution with some restrictions. He should not have delivered hate speech against the CM and the state government."

"The petitioner shall have to avoid hate speech while addressing public meetings," the judge said. However, Justice Ilanthiraiyan held that free speech of the citizens of the country cannot be stifled by implicating them in criminal cases unless such speech has the tendency to affect the public order.