Two journalists get interim protection from SC, amid MP police assault allegations
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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to two journalists from Madhya Pradesh who were reportedly assaulted and harassed on the orders of the Bhind Superintendent of Police due to their reporting on illegal sand mining in the Chambal River.
However, a Bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan directed the petitioners, Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan, to seek further relief from the Madhya Pradesh High Court within two weeks.
In the meantime, the Bench led by Justice Mishra ordered that the petitioner journalists should not be arrested, while clarifying that the Madhya Pradesh High Court is free to consider their request for an extension of interim protection.
On June 4, a bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma of the top Court issued a notice regarding the writ petition filed by the two journalists, but refused to grant any interim relief shielding them from coercive action.
The Bench led by Justice Karol noted that before issuing any interim order, the facts of the case must also be presented by the Madhya Pradesh government. The apex court questioned, “Suppose you commit a crime like murder, can we grant you no coercive action order? We don't know what crime has been registered against you.” It emphasized the need for clarity on the charges and directed the petitioners’ counsel to include the Bhind Superintendent of Police as a respondent in the petition.
The two journalists claimed they were compelled to leave their hometown because of the severe threats they faced after exposing "illegal" sand mining in the Chambal River, which was allegedly being conducted with the backing of the local police.
In their writ petition submitted to the Supreme Court, the petitioners identified IPS officer Asit Yadav and his subordinates as the main individuals responsible for the abuse, alleging that the actions against them were retaliatory in nature, triggered by their investigative reporting.
They alleged custodial assault, caste-based abuse, kidnapping, and continued harassment by the Bhind police.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu notice of the brutal assault on two journalists, who are reportedly facing serious threats to their lives and liberty from the Bhind police.
The country’s top human rights body issued a notice to the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), requesting a detailed report on the incident within two weeks. Referring to a press release by the Press Club of India, the NHRC stated that if the allegations mentioned are accurate, they indicate a grave violation of the journalists’ human rights.
