Gujarat High Court rejects petition seeking ban on book mocking Modi

Ahmedabad, July 19: Gujarat High Court today dismissed a petition seeking ban on a book which mocks and criticises Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Gujarati book, Fekuji Have Dilli Ma' (Mr Feku is in Delhi now), is written by Jayesh Shah, a Congress leader. It refers to Modi as Feku' (a boastful person/ braggart).

Justice S H Vora rejected the writ petition filed by Narsinh Solanki at the stage of admission itself, saying the court did not agree with the reasons cited by the petitioner for imposing a ban.

Solanki had earlier filed a civil suit in a lower court seeking to restrain the writer and publisher Shah from publishing and distributing the book.

The lower court had dismissed the suit on June 25, saying the book does not cause any damage to the reputation of the plaintiff, and Shah had the right to publish a book under Article 19 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.

Solanki challenged the ruling before the HC on the ground that the freedom of speech and expression comes with reasonable restrictions.

The book is a 25-page compilation of Modi's pre-election speeches and also contains cartoons. It contends that Modi did not fulfil a single promise made before the elections.

PTI