Press statement
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement:
Misuse of Contempt Law
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) considers the sentencing of well-known writer Arundhati Roy on contempt charges by a two-member bench of the Supreme Court inimical to the interests of a democratic system. The right to criticise judgements of the judiciary must be ensured in a democracy. In the recent period, the higher judiciary has given a number of judgements which have shown eagerness to endorse the policies of liberalisation and privatisation and which go against the interests of the working people. At the same time, the people's right to collective protest through hartals and bandhs are sought to be curbed. The CPI(M) is of the firm opinion that the right to criticise such judgments cannot be abrogated.
It will be better for the judiciary not to muzzle critical views using archaic contempt laws. It is also necessary to review such laws and make them compatible with a democratic society.