New Delhi, March 28 -- Stressing the importance of protecting freedom of speech and expression, the Supreme Court on Friday quashed an FIR registered against Congress MP Imran Pratapgarhi by Gujarat police over a social media post with a poem 'ae khoon ke pyase baat suno..."

A bench of Justice Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan allowed the petition filed by Pratapgarhi against the FIR while observing that no offence was made.

The apex court said free expression of thoughts and views by individuals or groups of individuals is an integral part of a healthy civilised society. Without freedom of expression of thoughts and views, it is impossible to lead a dignified life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, said the bench.

"In a healt...