Azam Khan's foul language of 2016
Foul Language of leaders: The big question expects its answer impatiently for so long: How to stop the bad language of the leaders? Now the Supreme Court has asked during its verdict on the issue that if a minister makes an objectionable statement, can his government be held responsible for it?
In fact, this issue was raised because of an ex-minister of UP, who is known as Azam Khan, had given a very objectionable statement in a rape case in 2016. Four out of the five judges bench of the Supreme Court were of the opinion that every minister is responsible for his own statement. His government cannot be blamed for that.
In a dissenting opinion, Justice B.V. Nagaratna says that if the statement of that minister was in the matter of any government policy, then the responsibility should be put on the government also. The remaining four judges are of the opinion that the constitution says that everyone has freedom of expression in the country. If someone misuses this freedom, he will be punished.
In such a situation, imposing any separate law would be a violation of a citizen’s freedom of expression. Whatever limits have been placed on freedom of expression in Article 19(2) of the Constitution, are sufficient to mull over the issue.
The opinion of the four judges seems quite reasonable but the concern of Judge Nagaratna is also worth noting. After all, the statement of a minister is publicized because he is a minister. He represents the government but where can the government be held responsible for his personal statements? Apart from this, it is also not easy to decide which of his statements are personal and which are actually related to his government.
Analyzing the issue, the law as it stands now seems sufficient in this matter. Even more important than implementing the new strictures of the law is that our ministers and leaders should apply some self-restraint on themselves. Their cabinet and their party should teach them to live in dignity. The sad fact is that even the topmost leaders of the political parties and their government do not desist from making slanderous statements.
Newspapers and TV channels also enjoy spewing those poisonous slurs. If our news organizations draw their ‘Laxman Rekha’, no one will pay attention to such poisonous, bitter, and cheap statements. The political parties can also impose strict restrictions on the leaders who are used to making such statements.
READ THIS ALSO: ICICI Bank Loan Fraud: Why only Kochhar and Dhoot were arrested?
If our media and parties dedicatedly resolve, then this foul language game of the leaders can be stopped to a great extent. This is a much better method than stopping them with the help of the courts.
