Jaswant book ban: SC issues notice to Gujarat govt

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to Gujarat government on a petition filed by Jaswant Singh challenging the ban on his book on Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

   The Gujarat government had banned Jaswant Singh's controversial book on Jinnah alleging it defamed Sardar Patel. The hearing is set for September 8.

A bench comprising Justice Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph asked the state government's counsel to seek instruction on the issue

Senior Advocates Fali S Nariman and Soli Sorabjee, appearing for the veteran politician, contended that banning of the book violated the fundamental rights of its author and publisher.

Banning the book earlier this month, the state government in a statement said, "Jaswant Singh's book questions role of Sardar Patel during the partition of India as well as his patriotic spirit. This is an attempt to tarnish the image of Patel who is considered the architect of modern united India."

"It is a bid to defame Patel by distorting historical facts," it charged. "So, the state government has decided to ban the book with immediate effect for wider public interest," it said.

"As per the ban, there cannot be sale, distribution or publication of the book in the state," it said.

The ban on Jaswant Singh’s book came after he was expelled from the party.

The 71-year-old politician challenged the state government's notification alleging that the authority banned the book 'Jinnah -- India, Partition, Independence' arbitrarily and without going through its contents. It amounts to violation of his fundamental rights of speech and expression, Singh said.

"Fundamental right of freedom of speech has been sought to be taken away by the Gujarat government by banning the book through a hasty and arbitrary notification," Singh, who has written ten books, said in his petition.

Terming the ban as illegal, the eight-time MP submitted that the book was based on "historical facts" and five years of extensive research and that it could not be proscribed on the state government's "specious" plea.

Singh said the step against his book amounted to "banning thinking" and likened it to the one taken against noted author Salman Rushdie for his controversial work 'Satanic Verses', PTI reported.