VIEWPOINT
The right to freedom of expression is fundamental for quality research to take place; the removal of the ban on a controversial book on Ramdev is a meaningful gesture towards the ideal.
Kavya Thomas and Kabir | The New Leam
The process of authoring a book is all about thinking and articulating issues that deserve to be understood by the public. The process of writing, filmmaking are activities that enlighten the world and make people more familiar with issues that they may not be informed about. It is significant that the author’s right to freedom is respected and his right to freedom of expression is given significance in the political milieu in the nation.To protect the author’s right to freedom of speech, a lower court in Delhi ended ex parte injunction on the publication and sale of a book on the well-known Yoga guru-entrepreneur Baba Ramdev.
The court Of East district, Karkardooma Courts, had put the injunction on the publication-sale of the book on Ramdev entited Godman to Tycoon: The Untold Story of Baba Ramdev by Priyanka Pathak-Narain’s published by Juggernaut Books. The orders was passed without giving the publisher and author a chance to explain their issues allegedly to stop the delay.
It has been argued that the usual course in issues such as the one related to the book is to protect the right of freedom and speech guaranteed to an individual/journalist/author under Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution of India, unless the work submitted is meritless.
Juggernaut Publication House said that they would always fight for their books and authors and is glad that the judgement was in their favour. The court’s judgement got great applaud by many well-known scholars, media persons, researchers and journalists.
Ramachandra Guha tweeted, “I trust other Indian publishers will be inspired by Juggernaut and have the courage to stand up for their authors and for artistic freedom more generally. In the past, they have too easily succumbed to thugs and bullies.”
Ramdev’s petition wanting a ban on the book had stated that some arguments made in the book were false and unaccountable,
It had accused the author of including controversial material to increase sales, the petition stated, “Certain content has been added without evidence and verification.” Defending the book immediately after the injunction order was passed, Juggernaut had said, “It contains a detailed 25-page note on sources that lists the interviews, articles, police reports and RTI replies that are the basis of each chapter.”
The publishing house has announced that the book would once again be available for sale in bookstores.
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