HC Notice to Gujarat Government on Setalvad's Plea

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court today issued notice to the state government on social activist Teesta Setalvad's plea seeking exemption from personal appearance before a police station here where a case has been lodged against her for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments.

Justice A J Desai directed the state to file a reply and adjourned the hearing to October 16. The court also allowed her, as an interim relief, to appear at the police station on any day in the first week instead of the fifth day of month. Setalvad wants exemption from appearing in person before Ghatlodia police station here. Last month, the High Court had asked her to approach the City Civil and Sessions Court.

But the lower court rejected her plea, so she again moved the High Court. A case was lodged against Setalvad -- who has doggedly pursued the cases of 2002 riot victims against the state government and political leaders -- in August last year by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad activist for uploading `objectionable' pictures of Hindu deities on Twitter. She removed the images later.

She has been charged with Indian Penal Code sections 153(a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups) and section 205(a) (outraging religious feelings). While granting her anticipatory bail in June, the sessions court had said that she shall appear before Ghatlodia police station on the fifth of every month.