A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah of the Supreme Court on Friday refused to quash the FIRs against several for allegedly pasting posters critical of PM Modi and the country's vaccination policy against COVID-19. The bench noted that FIRs cannot be quashed at the behest of a third party as it will set a very wrong precedent in criminal law.
The court further told advocate Pradeep Kumar Yadav, who was petitioner-in-person, to withdraw the petition as it was unwilling to entertain it. However, the court noted that this would not come in the way of those approaching the court to quash an FIR for genuine grievances. The petition had sought a directive from the court to quash the FIRs filed by the Delhi Police for pasting posters critiquing the vaccination policy in the country.
The court questioned the petitioner on how he could affirm the details of the case cited by him. Though petitioners' parents can move the court in case of the person's absence in exceptional cases, an FIR cannot be quashed at the request of a third party, it noted.
Yadav then sought permission to withdraw the PIL, which the court accepted. Yadav had argued that the court must intervene alleging a subversion of the freedom of speech and expression of the general public. The bench, however, said that it cannot issue any blanket orders on posters critiquing the centre's vaccination policy.