Mangalore, December 3: Justice Markandeya Katju, President of the Press Council of India (PCI) and former judge of the Supreme Court of India, has warned the Karnataka government against violation of the fundamental right of journalists and suppression of the freedom of the press.
Speaking to mediapersons on Monday at the Circuit House in Mangalore where he arrived today to participate in a programme in the city, Mr. Katju said: “I have been informed that jounalists are harassed in Mangalore by the police and also by the hooligans. I therefore make it clear that the PCI does not permit violation of press freedom either by assaults on journalists or giving them threats or in any other manner. Freedom of the press is a fundamental right under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution and it is the duty of the State to uphold this right. I therefore warn the authorities which include political, administrative and police authorities that if they violate this freedom by assaults or threats to journalists or in any other manner, the PCI will take strong action in this connection. In particular, the Government of Karnataka, through its Chief Minister is given a strong warning to uphol press freedom and to suppress activities of hooligans or police personnel who violate the fundamental right of citizens, including journalists”.
The delegation of journalists from Mangalore submitted an appeal to Mr. Katju on this occasion, asking him to speak up against the arrest of journalist Naveen Soorinje in the homestay attack case.
Responding to the appeal, Mr. Katju said: “It will not be proper for me to make any comment on the case as the chargesheet has been filed in the criminal court and th judicial proceedings are pending before the Judicial Magistrate. I am also told that a petition 482 CRPC is pending before the High Court appealing for the quashing of the proceedings. Since the matter is sub-judice both before the Trial as well as the High Court, it will not be proper for me to comment on Mr. Soorinje”.
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