The Supreme Court has asked a senior Delhi Police officer to appear and explain allegations that women journalists were assaulted, detained and intimidated while covering anti-CEC protests in the capital.
The Network of Women in Media, India filed a writ petition on Monday alleging that several women journalists were physically assaulted, prevented from working and arbitrarily detained by Delhi Police on October 10 and 11, despite showing valid press credentials. The petition seeks enforceable safeguards and standard operating procedures for police-media interactions during protests, as well as an independent inquiry into the alleged incidents.
The CJI took note after Senior Advocate Indira Jaising mentioned the petition, and said police would have to respond to the allegations. Separately, the Freedom Speech Collective filed a contempt petition alleging that police assaulted journalists in violation of the Supreme Court’s own October 10 order that media persons covering protests must not be harassed.
The matter will be heard on Thursday alongside a related case concerning alleged police action during the protests.
The allegations come against the backdrop of heavy-handed enforcement measures in Delhi during the anti-CEC demonstrations. Police imposed Section 163 of the BNSS, shut Metro stations and restricted internet access. The Supreme Court had already intervened on Sunday, ordering the restoration of normal services.
NWMI’s petition argues that the police action violates press freedom under Article 19(1)(a) and risks creating a chilling effect on journalists, particularly women reporting from the field. The case will test whether the court’s earlier protective order carries practical weight or remains a directive that enforcement agencies can disregard without consequence.
Source: The New Indian Express
