New Delhi: Exactly two months after Greenpeace activist Priya Pillai was stopped from boarding a flight to London to speak to British MPs, the Delhi High Court has asked the government to quash and set aside the lookout circular against her.
The court has also directed the government to expunge the passport entry where it has been stamped as "offload".
In its 39-page order, the court observes that criticism by an individual may not be palatable, even so it cannot be muzzled. "Why must the state interfere with the freedom of an individual, as long as the individual operates within the ambit of laws framed by the legislature?" says the order adding, "the state may not accept the views of civil rights activists, but that by itself, cannot be a good enough reason to do away with dissent."
"I'm feeling very happy because this reposes our faith in the Indian judiciary. Big win for people who dare to have a different dream of development which may not coincide with the dream of the government... Big vindication of our work," Ms Pillai said after the court order.
The government too said that it will honour the court's order.
12/03/15 Ketki Angre/NDTV
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The court has also directed the government to expunge the passport entry where it has been stamped as "offload".
In its 39-page order, the court observes that criticism by an individual may not be palatable, even so it cannot be muzzled. "Why must the state interfere with the freedom of an individual, as long as the individual operates within the ambit of laws framed by the legislature?" says the order adding, "the state may not accept the views of civil rights activists, but that by itself, cannot be a good enough reason to do away with dissent."
"I'm feeling very happy because this reposes our faith in the Indian judiciary. Big win for people who dare to have a different dream of development which may not coincide with the dream of the government... Big vindication of our work," Ms Pillai said after the court order.
The government too said that it will honour the court's order.
12/03/15 Ketki Angre/NDTV
