The Supreme Court has stated that it cannot put on trial citizens of the Country for expressing anti-government views. 

“Dissent is not sedition.” 

This is what the Supreme Court said while quashing a a PIL against the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. 

A plea filed by Rajat Sharma and others through advocate Shiv Sagar Tiwari against Farooq Abdullah for making statements against the scrapping of Article 370. 

Moreover, the top court has also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the petitioners for filing the plea against Abdullah. 

“The act of Abdullah is very serious against the interest of the nation therefore he deserves to be removed from the Parliament,” said the plea. 

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A two-judge bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hemant Gupta heard the plea. 

“Dissent cannot be termed seditious,” held the SC bench. 

The petitioner pleaded before the Court to pass an order disqualifying Farooq Abdullah from the Parliament for making statements against the scrapping of Article 370. 

The Court got enraged and said penal action should be taken against the petitioner for filing a “frivolous petition”. 

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