FREEDOM OF SPEECH & EXPRESSION INCLUDES FREEDOM OF BEING CRITICAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION OR AUTHORITY

2nd November 2020

The Tripura High Court recently said that the right to freedom and expression would include the freedom of being critical of the public administration or authority. The bench included Chief Justice Akil Kureshi, who said in this matter that “any breach into such freedom howsoever privately made, constitutional court will step in.”

A woman constable filed a petition challenging the order of her transfer dated 15^th September. The reason being that her husband, who is an advocate, critically remarked on the services of Government Hospital when admitted as a covid patient. She stated that she is also a sportswoman and represented Tripura Police on many valuable occasion.

The court was in favour that the government servant could not complain about such a transfer otherwise passed for administrative reasons.

The court carefully scrutinized the order paper and noted that it contained no paper, no proposal, and no background of the petitioner's transfer before 15^th September. After considering all the aspects, the court discharged her from the duties at Agartala at the procurement division where she was posted.

Author: Shweta Singh