KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee moved a Calcutta high court division bench Friday against a single-bench order restraining her from making “defamatory and incorrect statements” against governor C V Ananda Bose “in publications or social media platforms” till Aug 14, arguing that “justifiable criticism” was not libel and that the order completely curbed her fundamental right to free speech.
She said Justice Krishna Rao’s order, passed at pre-trial stage, had “severe ramifications” and was a “gag order” that had a “chilling effect” on her freedom of speech and expression, both individually and as a public representative.
Banerjee argued that the “order, if allowed to continue, shall have effect of fettering free speech by a person holding public office on grounds of violation of personal rights”. She said her statements “were not only true but a mere reiteration of concerns of various women which were brought to her notice”. She added that charges against Bose were already in the public domain.
She said Justice Krishna Rao’s order, passed at pre-trial stage, had “severe ramifications” and was a “gag order” that had a “chilling effect” on her freedom of speech and expression, both individually and as a public representative.
Banerjee argued that the “order, if allowed to continue, shall have effect of fettering free speech by a person holding public office on grounds of violation of personal rights”. She said her statements “were not only true but a mere reiteration of concerns of various women which were brought to her notice”. She added that charges against Bose were already in the public domain.