‘Journalism Cannot Be Prosecuted As Terrorism’: Press Groups Write To CJI In Wake Of NewsClick 

Several journalists’ bodies on Wednesday wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in the wake of raids by Delhi Police Special Cell against online news portal NewsClick. The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Tuesday conducted raids at various locations including NewsClick’s offices and the homes of its journalists and employees under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The probe revolves around allegations of financial transactions for pro-China propaganda.

Following the extensive searches that were carried out at 30 locations, two people were arrested including founder and Editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha. 

In a letter dated October 4, around 18 journalists’ bodies as signatories stated that a large section of journalists in India “finds itself working under the threat of reprisal.” 

Journalists bodies across the country write to the Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, seeking his intervention over attack on media. #FreeThePress pic.twitter.com/ExFAM4Et7v

— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) October 4, 2023

Referring to the actions against NewsClick under UAPA, they said: “Journalism cannot be prosecuted as terrorism” adding “enough instances in history abound to tell us where that eventually goes.”

The scribes’ bodies said that “vague assertions about the investigation of some unspecified offence have become the grounds for questioning journalists about their coverage of, inter alia, the farmers’ movement, the government’s handling of the Covid pandemic and the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act.” 

Referring to the case of Siddique Kappan and Father Stan Swamy, the letter said, “Journalists arrested under UAPA can end up spending months, if not years, behind bars before they are even granted bail.”

ALSO READ: NewsClick Founder Prabir Purkayastha & HR Head Sent To Seven Days Of Police Remand

“We already have the case of Siddique Kappan before us; he was incarcerated for two years and four months before finally securing bail. 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 added.

The letter urged the intervention of “Higher Judiciary”  to put an end “to the increasingly repressive use of investigating agencies against the media”

Press Club of India, Mumbai Press Club, and Working News Camermen’s Association were among some of the signatories to the letter.