The Calcutta High Court on Thursday sought an assurance from the State that no coercive action would be taken against journalists of Anandabazar Patrika facing FIRs over the newspaper’s use of the phrase “Gerua Gundami” or “saffron hooliganism”, provided they cooperate with notices issued to them.
The assurance was given by Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Mazumdar after Senior Advocate S N Mookherjee, assisted by Advocates Arunabha Deb and Ashika Daga, brought the FIRs registered against the journalists to the Court’s attention.
Mookherjee submitted that the cases had been initiated on allegations of incitement, as though the journalists had demeaned sanyasis across the country. He stated that the case was filed for incitement, as though they had insulted all monks in the country. He also informed the Court that his office had been painted saffron by protestors.
The Court asked Mookherjee if he was familiar with the term “saffron vandalism,” to which he replied that he was, adding that his father had been a member of the saffron brigade. After the Court pointed to the newspaper’s front page, Mookherjee clarified that the case wasn’t about politics, but about protecting journalists.
When the Additional Advocate General asked whether being journalists gave them the right to do anything they wanted, Mookherjee countered that he was not claiming special privileges, only the standard rights of an ordinary citizen.
The Court then sought an assurance that no action would be taken against the journalists until the matter was considered. The State agreed, subject to the journalists complying with the notices served on them.
Opposing blanket protection, the AAG assured the Court that no coercive steps would be taken before the next hearing, provided the journalists complied with the notices. The Court echoed this, instructing the journalists to cooperate with the investigation.
The AAG reiterated that no coercive steps would be taken as long as the journalists cooperated. Mookherjee, in turn, assured the Court that they would comply with the notices before the matter was taken up for hearing.
The FIRs were registered following objections to the use of the phrase “Gerua Gundami” (“saffron hooliganism”) in Anandabazar Patrika’s coverage of alleged violence at Jadavpur University. The journalists have approached the High Court seeking relief in connection with the criminal proceedings.
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