The Delhi High Court on Thursday declined to grant an urgent hearing to a woman journalist and two others seeking relief in connection with an FIR registered against them under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act over alleged casteist remarks against a Delhi Police officer during a protest in the national capital.
A Bench of Acting Chief Justice Nitin Wasudeo Sambre and Justice Sanjay Sharma was approached by counsel for the petitioners, who sought an immediate hearing and interim protection. However, the Court declined the request for urgent listing and said that the matter would be taken up the following day.
The FIR was registered at Parliament Street Police Station on October 13 on a complaint lodged by Assistant Commissioner of Police Vivek Bhagat in connection with an incident during a protest held on October 3. The accused include independent journalist Rosy, Gajendra Singh, who is associated with a news portal, and an unidentified person.
According to the complaint, the journalist allegedly made derogatory caste-related remarks against Bhagat and questioned his appointment as an ACP while he was performing law-and-order duties near Jantar Mantar. The FIR invokes provisions of the SC/ST Act as well as Sections 221, 356(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The case has emerged amid allegations made by the journalist against Bhagat concerning the same protest. She has accused the police officer of sexually harassing and manhandling her while she was recording videos of an activist’s detention. The officer has separately alleged caste-based abuse and obstruction of his official duties.
The competing allegations have brought the incident into focus amid broader legal proceedings concerning the treatment of journalists and protesters during demonstrations in Delhi. The allegations remain subject to investigation, and the High Court has not yet adjudicated the merits of the petitioners’ claims.
The matter is expected to be taken up by the Delhi High Court on Friday.
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