Supreme Court seeks senior Delhi Police officer's presence over alleged assault on women journalists

The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the presence of a senior Delhi Police officer to explain allegations that women journalists were assaulted while covering recent protests in the national capital.

Chief Justice of India 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.

“We'd like some senior officer to remain present here and explain,” the CJI said, adding that the police would have to explain the allegations. Jaising informed the court that advance notice had been given to the Solicitor General. The CJI said the petition would be listed for hearing on Thursday along with the matter concerning the alleged police action.

Contempt petition alleges violation of court order

Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan mentioned a contempt petition filed by the 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.

Senior Advocate Chander Uday Singh also mentioned a similar petition before the court.

The contempt plea brings the alleged police action under scrutiny in light of the court's earlier directions on protecting journalists covering demonstrations and other public events.

NWMI seeks safeguards for women journalists

The NWMI has filed a writ petition seeking directions to ensure the safety and dignity of journalists covering protests and other public events.

The petition contends that the existing inquiry into alleged police excesses does not specifically address issues concerning journalists' access to protest sites, their detention or forcible removal, and the safeguards required for independent reporting and newsgathering.

It seeks directions to the Union of India to ensure that women journalists engaged in bona fide newsgathering or reporting are not subjected to physical handling, intimidation, arbitrary detention or forcible removal merely because of their presence at or proximity to a protest, public assembly, crowd-control operation or other event of public importance.

The petition argues that journalists should be able to discharge their professional duties without being subjected to police action merely for covering such events.

Supreme Court to hear related matters together

The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up the NWMI petition on Thursday, alongside the matter concerning the alleged police action against journalists.

The court's request for a senior Delhi Police officer to remain present is intended to allow the police to explain the allegations raised in the petitions. The claims of assault and harassment remain allegations to be examined by the court.