Press Council chairman Markandey Katju expressed concern over the rising number of cases of assault on journalists in Maharashtra adding that the state government did not appear to be serious about the issue.
The letter to Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan comes close on the heels of the J Dey murder case, besides other cases of assault on journalists.
"In view of the large number of assaults on journalists taking place in your state, some protection must be given to journalists, but it seems your government is not serious about this," Katju said.
He listed several instances where scribes had been assaulted in the state just for doing their job, including that of journalist Yogesh Kute, who was allegedly beaten up by a builder for exposing his unlawful activities
Meanwhile, in a related development, the Mumbai Press Club issued a statement on the investigations in the J Dey murder:
STATEMENT ON THE J.DEY INVESTIGATION AND ARREST OF JIGNA VOHRA
The Press Club, Mumbai expresses its concern at the direction of the investigations into the killing of well known journalist J Dey by the Mumbai Police. It fears if this is not corrected, justice for the slain investigative journalist will be derailed.
The police hypothesis, that gangster Chota Rajan is the center piece of the killing, and that he acted in revenge against Dey rather than at the behest of some vested interests, is a suspect theory. Revenge, when there is no issue of betrayal or monetary stake involved, is unknown in the Mumbai crime world.
The arrest under the draconian MCOCA of journalist Jigna Vohra, deputy bureau chief of Asian Age, to support this theory also raises serious doubts. Though the innocence or guilt of Vohra is still an open issue, and the police are yet to prove their case, the prima facie evidence cited seems far-fetched. For instance, police statements that she supplied the motorcycle registration number etc to Chota Rajan, and that she had professional rivalry with J Dey, is to indirectly blame professional media rivalry for a crime for which the motive still remains shrouded in darkness.
Even as the Mumbai Police"™s DCB-CID is still to present its charge sheet against Vohra, the Press Club is concerned at her safety and security. The club is also worried about how free or fair her trial will be in the light of the meagre resources at her disposal for her legal defense and her unfortunate trial by media.
In this respect, the Press Club advises all editors and journalists covering the case to uphold the tenets of good journalism and exercise restraint so that Jigna Vohra does not stand condemned even before her trial. It has been brought to our attention that numerous stories have produced police versions verbatim without quoting named sources; and more seriously, without seeking out Vohra"™s side of the story.
Let us quote from the Bombay High Court judgment in the J.Dey case (V.B.Patil and others versus the state in which the Press Club was also a petitioner) pronounced by Ranjana Desai and Ranjit More J J on July 18, 2011 on the issue of police leaks in the media casting aspersions on J Dey and his family:
"24. This takes us to another important issue. It is the contention of the petitioners that Mumbai Police are leaking out details of the investigation to the people by making statements to the Press. Contradictory statements are issued by them making the entire investigation suspect"¦.
"Though we do not want to interfere with the administration of the police department, we do feel the time has come for the Mumbai Police to take some decision on this issue. As to how much information is to be supplied to the Press and who should supply it must be decided. Frequent issuance of statements unnecessarily giving minute details of investigation will adversely affect the investigation and in the long run damage the prosecution case. Such disclosures are not in public interest. A balance must be struck. This applies to the investigating agencies and also to the public prosecutors, some of whom are seen giving detailed interviews to the Press even when the cases are sub-judice. We hope and trust this issue will be examined by the police at the highest level"¦"
It is obvious that these observations by the Bombay High Court also apply to the way the Mumbai Police handles the arrest of Jigna Vohra.