Freedom of speech is not absolute: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday not only refused to quash the seven first information reports (FIRS) registered against the actors, makers and streaming platform Amazon Prime’s head of the web series Tandav across the country, for allegedly hurting religious feelings, but also shot down their plea seeking interim protection from arrest.

Observing that it had to “strike a balance,” the court emphasised that freedom of speech is not an absolute right and that no actor can hide behind a script and a role to escape culpability under the law.

The bench, headed by justice Ashok Bhushan, stated that Tandav actor Zeeshan Ayyub and other petitioners should rather approach high courts — at least five different ones — to seek quashing of the FIRS and for prearrest bail. The top court said it would only consider clubbing the seven FIRS at one place.

“When you (Ayyub) accepted this role, you must have read the script. You cannot play a role with a script that hurts religious sentiments of others. You cannot escape responsibility,” the bench, which also included justices R Subhas Reddy and MR Shah, observed.