'Curbing public officials' hate speech in legislative domain'

New Delhi: The Centre agreed with the SC that it is not acceptable for public functionaries to shoot from the hip but urged that the court let Parliament take a call on the matter.

- AmitAnand.Choudhary timesgroup.com

Attorney general R Venkataramani and solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the bench that the apex court has given two verdicts on petitions filed by Tehseen Poonawala and Amish Devgan on the issue and in the light of those judgments, there was no need to hear the case. They said the questions framed in the case are abstract and it would be problematic to pass an order on those issues.

The attorney general said there are provisions within IPC to deal with such instances and imposing additional restrictions comes within the legislative domain and Parliament can debate and frame a law. He said public servants work under rule of conduct and they would face the consequences for breaching it.