RTI Activist Saket Gokhale moves Allahabad High Court against the state of Uttar Pradesh on the issue of coercive action taken against those who are appealing for oxygen on social media.
The PIL filed in the Allahabad HC refers to news of an FIR filed against a man, who sought help on Twitter for oxygen for his grandfather.
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It was on Monday evening that Shashank Yadav had tagged the actor Sonu Sood in the tweet, although there was no mention of Covid-19. The tweet was further shared by Smriti Irani, the MP from Amethi.
On Tuesday, the Amethi Police tweeted that it had registered a criminal case against a youth who took to Twitter to appeal for oxygen. This comes after the UP Chief Minister Yogi’s orders to the officials about taking action against the ‘anti-national elements’ who spread ‘rumors’ and ‘propaganda’ on social media and try to ‘spoil the atmosphere.’
The petition filed by Gokhale seeks direction, to immediately cease and desist from taking coercive action against Covid19 patients and their families who are appealing for leads to medical oxygen and life-saving medicines as well as against independent volunteers who are helping Covid19 patients and their families by collecting information on oxygen and medicine availability on social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Whatsapp and any other such mediums.
“Court can prevent the potential risk to the life and liberty of thousands of Covid19 patients and their families who are facing an oxygen shortage and will also safeguard their fundamental rights to life and liberty as well as free expression guaranteed under Articles 19 and 21,” states the petition.
“The declaration of the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, to invoke the National Security Act, 1980 against patients and their families appealing for oxygen leads on social media has struck a massive fear into the hearts of ordinary citizens in the state”, said the petition filed by Gokhale.