‘Organised harassment’: A Supreme Court judge on ‘obscenity’ charges against painter MF Husain

What happened: A Supreme Court judge describes handling the 2008 case of painter MF Husain, which had been adjourned 16 times before reaching him, and frames it as a test of free speech principles against organised harassment. Key numbers: The matter had been adjourned 16 times. The case was in 2008. The judge says routine work takes 90% of the time. Why it matters: The judge says it would not be right to step back from a case just because it was politically charged, and argues courts should not let public figures silence critics.

A Supreme Court judge describes handling the 2008 case of painter MF Husain, which had been adjourned 16 times before reaching him, and frames it as a test of free speech principles against organised harassment.

The judge says it would not be right to step back from a case just because it was politically charged, and argues courts should not let public figures silence critics.