Kerala High Court Dismisses PIL Against Arundhati Roy's Book Cover Depicting Smoking
The Kerala High Court has dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to ban the sale of Arundhati Roy's book, "Mother Mary Comes to Me." The petitioner argued the cover, showing Roy smoking, violated tobacco advertising laws without a warning. The court found the PIL was filed without approaching the competent statutory authority and cautioned against its misuse for publicity or slander. The court noted the publisher's disclaimer and the existence of an expert committee to handle such violations.
First-hand measurement across 2 sources
We measured how 2 outlets covered this story. Coverage leans balanced overall (Left 33%, Centre 34%, Right 33%). Overall sentiment is neutral (55/100).
Outlets analysed (first-hand measurement by TBN's Bias Engine):
- indianexpress— balanced framing, neutral sentiment
- deccanchronicles— balanced framing, neutral sentiment
AI Analysis
Both articles focus on a legal proceeding and the court's decision. There is no discernible political leaning as the coverage centers on the judicial process and the petitioner's claims versus the court's reasoning, rather than political ideologies.
The sentiment is neutral and factual, reporting on a court ruling. The tone is objective, detailing the petitioner's claims, the court's observations, and the final dismissal of the PIL without expressing approval or disapproval.
How 2 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.