Centre cites difficulty identifying journalists in response to SC

The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it was difficult to distinguish between “reel makers” and independent journalists covering protests, as the court heard petitions concerning alleged police excesses during protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, made the remarks while responding to allegations that women journalists had faced sexual harassment at the hands of male police personnel during the protests.

“There are several people who say we are freelance journalists. They have a mic, and they record things, and they upload on the... What is going on is reel-making; that happens even at the protest site. So, we do not know who is a reel maker, and who is an independent journalist,” Mehta told the court.

He, however, stressed that no woman should be subjected to inappropriate treatment, including by female police personnel.

Mehta also opposed a blanket direction in a petition filed by senior advocate Indira Jaising, which seeks the formation of a committee to examine alleged police excesses against women journalists during the protests.

He said the court could examine the police action and issue appropriate directions if it found that the authorities had failed to act adequately. However, he argued that a blanket direction prohibiting the registration of cases against women journalists would be too broad.

On the demand for an FIR in connection with the allegations, Mehta told the bench that the Centre would file its response by way of an affidavit within a week.

The bench was hearing a batch of around 32 petitions concerning alleged police excesses, the SIR exercise and the powers of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners.