HC calls criminal charges against peaceful protesters a 'Sad Day for Democracy'

Nagpur, Nov 13 (UNI): The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has quashed a First Information Report (FIR), charge-sheet and pending criminal proceedings against a 26-year-old man booked for participating in a protest over poor road conditions in Chandrapur district, observing that using criminal prosecution to suppress peaceful agitations would be a "sad day for democracy". Justice M W Chandwani, in an order passed on October 29, held that the constitutional right to peaceful protest cannot be curtailed through vague criminal charges. The case pertains to an agitation held by residents of Nandgaon village in January this year following…