Petition challenging ban of Jaswant's book filed in Gujarat HC

A petition was today filed today in Gujarat High Court challenging the ban by the state government on expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh's book "Jinnah-India, Partition, Independence".

The petition filed by Manishi Jani, a distinguished poet and writer, and Prakash Shah, a professor of political, said the state government's move was unconstitutional and demanded quashing of the notification prohibiting the publication, sale, circulation and distribution of Singh's book.

They have also requested that enforcement of the ban be stayed till a decision on their petiton.

The Gujarat government had on August 19 banned Singh's book on Jinnah alleging that it was aimed at tarnishing the image of Vallabhbhai Patel.

The petitioners contended that by banning Singh's book, the government has imposed unreasonable restrictions on the citizens of Gujarat and violated their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution of India.

They said the notification by the state government banning the book does not mention what actually it found objectionable in the book.