Waving Black Flag To A Person Neither Defamation Nor An Illegal Act: Kerala High Court Quashes Case For Protesting Chief Minister's Convoy

The Kerala High Court ruled that waving a black flag at the Chief Minister’s convoy does not constitute defamation. The court emphasized that such actions are a form of protest and fall within the realm of free speech and expression. The case involved a petitioner who waved a black flag at the Chief Minister’s convoy, leading to charges of defamation. The court dismissed the charges, stating that peaceful protests and expressions of dissent are fundamental rights in a democratic society. This ruling reinforces the importance of protecting free speech and the right to protest, highlighting that dissenting actions, such as waving a black flag, should not be criminalized as defamation.