The Supreme Court's move striking down a provision that made "offensive" social network posts punishable was today welcomed by relatives of the girl who was arrested for her comments on Facebook after Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackrey's death in 2012.
Speaking to the media after they came to know about the order, Shaheen Dhada's father Farooq Dhada and uncle Abdul Dhada said they welcome the apex court's ruling.
They said that the comment made by Shaheen was not against any individual but was a "general" one.
"We hope that now there will be no misuse of the law and the social media as well following the apex court's decision (to scrap Section 66A of IT Act). Shaheen had made a general comment and did not intent to target any individual or hurt religious sentiments," Farooq Dhada said.
Shaheen's post on Facebook had landed her and her friend Rinu Srinviasan in trouble after Shaheen had put a status post on the popular site over the 'bandh' called after the death of Bal Thackeray in November, 2012.
Palghar police had arrested Shaheen and Rinu for liking the comment on the charges of hurting religious sentiments following a complaint filed against the two by Shiv Sena's Palghar unit chief Bhushan Sankhe.
The police action had evoked widespread outrage. They both were also charged under provisions of IT Act.
They were, however, granted bail soon after furnishing personal bonds.
A mob of suspected Shiv Sainiks had vandalised the clinic of Shaheen's uncle in Palghar.
Following public outcry over the arrest, an inquiry was ordered by the DIC, Konkan Range. Based on the report, Maharashtra government had suspended SP (Thane Rural) Ravindra Sengaonkar for making "hasty arrest" and inspector Shrikant Pingale of Palghar police for "creating false records".
