The Kerala High Court dismisses a plea challenging the cover of Arundhati Roy’s latest book, ‘Mother Mary Comes To Me’, which depicts the author smoking without a statutory health warning.
Kerala High Court Dismisses Plea Against Arundhati Roy’s Book Cover
On Monday, the Kerala High Court dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed against author Arundhati Roy’s book ‘Mother Mary Comes To Me’. The PIL challenged the cover image of the book, which shows the author smoking a cigarette without a statutory health warning. The petitioner had sought a stay on the sale of the book unless it carried the mandatory health warning label.
Background of the Case
The PIL, filed by a Kochi-based lawyer, argued that the cover image of Roy smoking a cigarette could influence young readers negatively and glamorize smoking. The petitioner contended that the image violated tobacco control laws, which mandate health warnings on all media depicting tobacco use.
Court’s Observations
The Kerala High Court, after hearing the arguments, dismissed the plea, stating that the cover image did not violate any laws. The court noted that the book’s content and its cover image were protected under the right to freedom of expression. The dismissal has been seen as a reinforcement of creative freedom in literary works.
Public Reaction
The dismissal of the PIL has sparked discussions on social media and among literary circles. Supporters of the decision view it as a victory for artistic expression, while critics argue that such images could have a detrimental effect on impressionable readers. The debate continues on the balance between creative freedom and public health concerns.
