IJU condemns APHC’s gag orders on media
There is massive outrage over Andhra Pradesh High Court’s media gag on the journalistic community.
The Indian journalists union (IJU), eminent personalities from the media and the judiciary like Prashant Bhushan, Rahul Shivshankar, Rajdeep Sardesai, Dhanya Rajendran and others took to social media questioning the gag order.
IJU strongly felt that the court directing media not to publish the contents of the first information report (FIR) filed by the Andhra Pradesh anti-corruption bureau (ACB) against a former advocate general and some relatives of a judge was most unfortunate. IJU stated that it amounted to a denial of the fundamental right of freedom of the press and the people’s right to information.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, IJU president, K. Sreenivas Reddy, and secretary general, Balwinder Singh Jammu, felt that the court's blanket order amounted to judicial overreach encroaching on the rights and privileges of the fourth pillar of democracy, the press, as important as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
Several prominent people took to social media condemning the move.
Prashant Bhushan commented, “I understand that late yesterday an application for gagging the media had been filed by the former AG. I stand corrected on that. Such a gag order by the HC is totally out of order and unprecedented. It not only stifles free speech but deprives people of info. It will lead to rumours.” Rajdeep Sardesai stated ‘The story that caught my eye: when an aam aadmi is named in FIR, be prepared for the worst. When a khaas aadmi is named, get a gag order asap!’ Rahul Shivshankar commented, ‘Unusual. Andhra HC gags media on govt FIR over land purchase naming daughters of SC judge. High and mighty get cover!’ Uma Sudhir stated ‘Directions of courts need to be followed but am wondering about wider ramifications of #GagOrders issued by #AndhraPradesh #HC restraining #media in all forms from reporting on alleged case of #corruption against former addl advocate general & daughters of sitting #SC judge.’
YSR Congress Lok Sabha floor leader, Mithun Reddy, raised this issue in the parliament on Wednesday, expressing his dissent over the court's stifling the media. He said, “The enforcement of law should be the same for the Prime Minister and for the common man.”