While freeing Mohammed Zubair, the Supreme Court said that the power to arrest must be used sparingly, this has been reiterated umpteen times before by SC but to no effect. All courts must grant immediate bail in most minor offences and especially those related to free speech, unless there is clear indication that speech was intended to incite violence. India needs a bail law that codifies these practices and removes judicial (in)discretion. Another mean trick used by the police is the filing of multiple FIRS so that bail in one case is not enough to secure freedom, the accused deserves protection from such blatant harassment by law enforcement authorities. The court also refused to ban the accused from tweeting pointing out that a journalist can not be barred from tweeting, rather if any tweet falls foul of the law then legal proceedings can follow. This is basic interpretation of rights and responsibilities but given the actions of police and lower courts it is heartening that the SC made things clear. The SC has lit a beacon of hope for people being unjustly incarcerated for holding up a mirror to the ruling dispensation.
