NEW DELHI, April 21 -- The Allahabad High Court, refusing to quash a charge sheet filed against a man for mocking a Hindu deity on social media, emphasized that freedom of speech is not absolute.

Justice Prashant Kumar dismissed Owais Khan's petition challenging the charge sheet. Khan had mocked Lord Shiva in a social media post. The court asserted that such acts not only cause emotional distress but also undermine the foundational values of the country's democratic society. It stressed the judiciary's duty to send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated and will be met with appropriate legal consequences.

"In a democratic society, such as ours, where freedom of speech is held in high regard, it is imperative to understa...