SC Questions Defamation Complaint Over Tharoor’s ‘Scorpion on Shivling’ Remark

Quick Summary

• supreme Court’s remarks: The Supreme court questioned why BJP leader Rajeev Babbar remains “so touchy” about Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s “scorpion on Shivling” remark targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Justice M.M. Sundresh suggested the case is weak, stating, “let us close all this.”
• Defamation proceedings stayed: The court extended its stay on the trial court’s defamation proceedings against Mr. Tharoor, which was first granted in September 2024.
• Upcoming hearing scheduled: The next hearing for the case is set for September 15, 2025.
• Background of the case: The complaint by Mr.Babbar dates back too November 2018 and is based on Mr. Tharoor’s reference to an unnamed RSS member quoted in a Caravan magazine story from march 2012 during a Bangalore Literature Festival discussion in October 2018 about his book The Paradoxical Prime Minister.

Indian Opinion Analysis

This progress underscores broader debates over freedom of speech versus perceived defamation within india’s political landscape. The Supreme Court’s critical remarks hint at judicial skepticism regarding litigations stemming from metaphorical language or indirect criticisms like those made by Shashi Tharoor at a literature festival six years prior. While the apex court views such cases as trivial distractions, their periodic persistence highlights sensitivities rooted in ideological and identity-driven politics.

Extending the stay further affirms that judiciary intervention might be necessary to ensure such disputes do not overwhelm courts or suppress healthy democratic discourse among elected representatives-a matter vital for upholding India’s constitutional ethos of free speech balanced with dignity protection.

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