The Bombay High Court on Thursday observed that protesting against the Indian state’s decisions and raising anti-government slogans cannot be a valid ground for expulsion of citizens from an area, while dismissing an externment order issued by the Mumbai police against Socialist Democratic Party of India leader Saeed Ahmad Abdul Wahid Chaudhary.

“The petitioner has just raised slogans like 'BJP Government Murdabad', 'Amit Shah Murdabad'... Why citizens can't raise such slogans? Why externment orders for such slogans?" Justice Jamdar asked, seeking clarification from the deputy commissioner of Mumbai police. He also referred to the paper leak protests happening across the country, according to legal news websites.

The judge also noted that police officers are accountable to the public, not to ministers. Stressing that citizens have the right to protest and oppose government decisions, he said the police cannot issue externment orders to drive people out of their own city simply for participating in protests or raising slogans.