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Informist, Friday, Apr. 25, 2025

 

--SC stays summons against Congress Rahul Gandhi in Savarkar defamation case 

--SC to Rahul Gandhi:Don't make irresponsible statements on freedom fighters 

 

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up Congress Member of Parliament and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his remarks against V.D. Savarkar, whom Gandhi had said was a servant of the British and took a pension from them. The apex court asked Gandhi to refrain from making "such irresponsible statements" about freedom fighters, and warned that it will take a suo motu action against him.

 

"You have a good point on law and you will get a stay. But any further statement by him will be taken up suo motu. No words on our freedom fighters. They gave us freedom and we treat them like this? Issue notice. Stay on impugned order," said a Bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan. The apex court stayed a Lucknow magistrate court's summons to Gandhi in the defamation case filed by advocate Nripendra Pandey, and also issued a notice to the State of Uttar Pradesh and the complainant.

 

"Does he (Gandhi) know that even Mahatma Gandhi used the words 'your faithful servant'. Does he know his grandmother (Indira Gandhi) also sent a letter to the freedom fighter (Savarkar) praising him? Let him (Gandhi) not make irresponsible statements about freedom fighters. You cannot make such statements without knowing the history or geography of freedom fighters," said the bench. 

 

The top court said it has even seen chief justices of the high courts in those days writing "your servant" in their orders. Someone does not become a servant like this, said the top court, adding, "This way you will say Mahatma Gandhi was a servant of Britishers".

 

The complainant, Nripendra Pandey, had alleged that Gandhi had made derogatory remarks against Hindutva ideologue Savarkar during his Bharat Jodo Yatra at a rally in Maharashtra's Akola district in 2022. Pandey said that Gandhi had insulted the great and fearless leader of nationalist ideology who had fought for the freedom of the country. "I understand making the statement somewhere...But he made it in Akola. He (Savarkar) is worshipped there," the top court remarked on Friday.

 

In April, the Allahabad High Court had refused to quash the summons issued against Gandhi. Challenging the high court's order, Gandhi had moved the apex court. "The impugned proceedings are clearly frivolous, vexatious and designed to inflict criminal process as a virtual punishment and a deterrent for free exercise of his freedoms and from freely performing his duty as a responsible opposition leader," said Gandhi in his petition. 

 

Savarkar was an Indian politician, activist and writer, who developed the Hindu nationalist political ideology of Hindutva while confined at Ratnagiri in 1922. Savarkar was a leading figure in the Hindu Mahasabha.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

 

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