The Supreme Court today sought a response from the Gujarat government on its decision to ban expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh's controversial book on Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah saying an ex-parte stay on the ban would not be appropriate.
The apex court preferred to give a week's time to Gujarat government to explain its stand for issuing notification banning the book 'Jinnah -- India, Partition, Independence' which has been challenged by Jaswant Singh.
"The ex-parte stay would not be appropriate," a Bench comprising Justices Altamas Kabir and Cyriac Joseph said while issuing notice to the state government for its response on Singh's plea seeking quashing of the notification banning the book on the charge that its contents were against public tranquillity and national interest. The Bench posted the matter for hearing on September 8 asking Gujarat government counsel Hemantika Wahi, who was present in the courtroom, to take instruction from the authorities for responding to the allegations made in the petition.
