16 media associations write to CJI on alleged ‘repressive use’ of probe businesses in opposition to media

Several media associations have written to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud searching for the court docket’s intervention to place an finish to the alleged “repressive” use of investigating businesses “against the media” and demanding tips on police seizures of the digital gadgets of journalists.

The letter was written by 16 press associations within the wake of a raid by Delhi police’s Special Cell into the residences of journalists, editors and writers related to the information portal ‘Newsclick’.

“Our fear is that State actions against the media have been taken beyond measure, and should they be allowed to continue in the direction they are headed, it may be too late for corrective or remedial steps. It is, therefore, our collective view that the higher judiciary must now intervene to put an end to the increasingly repressive use of investigating agencies against the media,” the letter acknowledged.

The associations stated that as journalists and information professionals, we’re at all times prepared and keen to cooperate with any bona fide investigation.

“However, ad hoc, sweeping seizures and interrogations surely cannot be considered acceptable in any democratic country, let alone one that has begun advertising itself as the ‘mother of democracy,” it added.

The letter has been despatched by media associations akin to Digipub News India Foundation, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India, Foundation of Media Professionals, National Alliance of Journalists, Network of Women in Media, Chandigarh Press Club, Delhi Union of Journalists, Kerala Union of Working Journalists, Brihanmumbai Union of Journalists, Free Speech Collective Mumbai, Mumbai Press Club, Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, Press Association of India and Guwahati Press Club.

The letter stated that October 3 raids led to the arrest of two individuals underneath varied sections of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the seizure of cellphones and computer systems with out guaranteeing the integrity of their knowledge–a primary protocol that’s important to due course of.

“The invocation of UAPA is especially chilling. Journalism cannot be prosecuted as ‘terrorism’. Enough instances in history abound to tell us where that eventually goes,” it added.

The letter additional stated, “The fact is that today, a large section of journalists in India finds itself working under the threat of reprisal. And it is imperative that the judiciary confronts power with a fundamental truth–that there is a Constitution to which we are all answerable.”

It acknowledged that there have been many situations over the previous few years when assaults on the free press by the State have required judicial intervention, and we (journalists)proceed to pursue such instances.

“But the developments over the past 24 hours have left us no option but to appeal to your good conscience to take cognisance and intervene before it is too late and an autocratic police State becomes the norm,” stated the affiliation to CJI.

The letter urged the judiciary to uphold the values of freedom of speech and expression enshrined within the Constitution.

The letter acknowledged that large powers of investigation are given to the State on the idea of bonafide on the a part of its businesses.

“Equally, a wide immunity against coercion must be read into the constitutional provisions of free speech, and methods must be devised against police overreach–especially given the repeated misuse of these powers,” it added.

It claimed that the nation’s investigating businesses have been “misused” and “weaponised” in opposition to the press.

Sedition and terrorism instances have been filed in opposition to editors and reporters, and a number of, sequential and/or frivolous FIRs have been used as an instrument of harassment in opposition to journalists, they stated.

The letter cited the case of Siddique Kappan who was arrested underneath UAPA and spent greater than two years in jail earlier than getting bail and likewise highlighted the loss of life of father Stan Swamy, who died whereas in custody underneath UAPA fees.

“The tragic death of Father Stan Swamy in custody is a reminder of how indifferent the authorities seem to have become towards human life under the guise of combating ‘terrorism’,” it acknowledged.

They urged the CJI to border norms to discourage the seizure of journalists’ telephones and laptops on a whim, as has been the case. Evolve tips for interrogation of journalists and for seizures from them, to make sure that these aren’t undertaken as fishing expeditions with no bearing on an precise offence, the affiliation requested.

They additional requested to search out methods to make sure the accountability of State businesses and particular person officers who’re discovered overstepping the regulation or willfully deceptive courts with obscure and open-ended investigations in opposition to journalists for his or her journalistic work.

(This information report is revealed from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content material has not been written or edited by OpIndia employees)