SC to hear plea challenging UAPA imposed on those who flagged Tripura violence

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea against the Tripura government's imposition of anti-terror law against journalists, activists, lawyers and other members of the intelligentsia for flagging the recent violence in the state.

The issue was mentioned by activist lawyer Prashant Bhushan before a bench led by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana. The CJI said that he would give a specific date for a hearing on the plea.

"This is regarding the incidents in Tripura and FIRs and 41A notices issued to lawyers who went on a fact-finding mission... as some tweeted, Tripura is burning," Bhushan said.


He said the plea challenged two widely misused provisions of the law. "Please list it as these people are under an imminent threat," he said. The CJI assured him that he would give a firm date for hearing the plea. Invoking UAPA against members of civil society and journalists would have a chilling effect on free speech, the petition said.