The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the personal presence of a senior Delhi Police officer on Thursday to explain allegations that women journalists covering the recent protests in the capital were assaulted and detained, stepping up its scrutiny of the police crackdown on demonstrators and mediapersons.
The bench agreed to list the petition on Thursday along with the pending matters concerning alleged police excesses and restrictions imposed ahead of the protests. Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant made the observation after senior advocate Indira Jaising mentioned a petition filed by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), seeking safeguards for journalists covering protests, particularly women journalists. Jaising informed the court that the copy of the petition and an advance notice had been given to solicitor general Tushar Mehta. Senior advocate Chander Uday Singh mentioned a similar petition. The NWMI’s petition seeks directions to ensure the safety and dignity of journalists covering protests and other public events. It argues that the existing inquiry into alleged police excesses does not specifically address journalists’ access to protest sites, their detention or forcible removal, and the safeguards necessary for independent reporting and newsgathering. It also sought explanations on the circumstances and manner of the alleged detentions and their legal justification.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan also mentioned a contempt petition filed by Freedom Speech Collective, alleging that police personnel assaulted journalists in violation of the Supreme Court’s October 10 order that mediapersons covering the protests must not be harassed. Singh, 27, was covering a protest called by the All India Students Association (AISA) near RK Ashram Marg when police personnel allegedly pushed him and struck him with what he described as a pointed object.
“We would like some senior officer to remain present here and explain,” said CJI, making it clear that the police would have to respond to the allegations. He said he repeatedly identified himself as a Hindustan reporter and showed his identity card, but was still taken onto a bus along with a photojournalist.
The bench issued notices in contempt proceedings alleging that authorities had failed to comply with its earlier directions on regulating transport services and protecting the right to peaceful protest.
