By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi: The Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) has appealed the federal and state governments to review all sedition charges and cases slapped on media persons and social activists in the country.
“Respecting and imbibing the spirit of the Supreme Court verdict that recently quashed the sedition case against veteran journalist Vinod Dua, the governments, in the best interest of democracy, are duty-bound to follow suit and withdraw cases filed under the ‘black laws,’ says a press release issued by ICPA president Ignatius Gonsalves.
The June 8 statement endorsed the views of Editors Guild of India and other media organizations and demanded repeal of the draconian and antiquated sedition laws and UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention Act) as “these are misfits in any modern liberal democracy.”
A year ago, the police in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh registered a sedition case against Dua for uploading a video critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government on YouTube. A division bench of the apex court consisting of Justice U U Lalit and Justice Vineet Saran not only quashed the sedition charge against him but also underlined the need for journalists to be protected.
“We welcome and laud the apex court’s judgment and hope it would bring in justice and relief to journalists and activists who are jailed under sedition charge and UAPA. The verdict also makes it amply clear that a journalist cannot be arrested just because he or she has criticized the government,” says the ICPA statement.
The press body says the soul of democracy lies in voicing criticism and expressing dissent.
“If these rights are taken away from citizens, it would spell the death knell of democracy. The media will become public relation agencies if journalists are devoid of their right to report the voices from the ground even if they are critical of the government,” it further says.
According to ICPA, Filing of cases and arrest of journalists in large numbers across the country send out a wrong message and bring out the ulterior motive of the governments.
ICPA, the premier organization of Catholic periodicals, publishers and journalists working in secular and religious media, “is well aware of prudence, objectivity and professional integrity with which the media should perform its duty as the fourth pillar of democracy. At the same time it should be remembered that a ‘trutho-phobic’ media would herald the doom of human rights and eventually democracy itself.”
Many legal experts argue that the sedition clause is a remnant of British colonial rule, originally introduced to suppress critical voices emanating from the Indian freedom movement.
The Supreme Court itself has recognized that there is a need to re-examine these laws. But laws are repealed/amended by our parliamentarians as per Repealing and Amending Act, 2019. Will the current dispensation with overwhelming majority be willing to do this in true democratic spirit when autocracy has taken a firm grip?
ICPA could join with other “secular media agencies” and “journalists’ forums” and voice out.