The Bench of India’s Supreme Court terming arrest of journalist and founder of Newsclick Mr. Prabir Purkayastha by Delhi Police as invalid under unlawful Unlegl Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and ordered his immediate release. Justice, Mehta, while deliberating said , before arrest the grounds of arrest should be communicated in written form and not doing so is a violation of Article 22 (5) of Constitution. The Court further said, the right to get informed about grounds of arrest and right to consult a lawyer is a fundamental right and violation of this under Indian Constitution robs the individual of liberty. Mr. Purakayastha walked out of jail on the late evening of May 16th, 2024 is welcome.
Mr. Purakayastha was arrested on October 2023, on the accusation of receiving funds from China to promote anti-national propaganda through digital media. Later a 800 page long charge sheet was submitted to court based on allegations by certain individual, but lacking any ground evidence. Followed by arrest, Several journalists, technicians and content contributors were raided, searched and technical gadgets sized by police. The FIR lodged by Delhi police accused Newsclick and Mr. Purakayastha of attempts to depict Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as “ not parts of India”, underscoring government’s efforts of COVID, tacitly defending agiatations against Citizenship Act, farmers struggle against three farm laws and and defending Chinese telecommunication firms.
These allegations are base less devoid of any ground evidence. Nowhere in published material in Newsclick there were attempts to neither compromise with territorial integrity of India, discrediting COVID efforts, nor defending the Chinese telecommunication firms. Yes, in various articles the draconian Citizenship Act (CAA) and inhuman oppression of justful farmers struggle waged against monopoly of corporate houses to takeover agriculture sector were supported. Author of this write-up, also in some of his articles published in Newsclick vividly depicted the rural distress and supported farmers struggle. Allegations levelled by Police in chargesheet are baseless lacking any evidence and aimed at suppressing freedom expression and curtail the free Press.
Of late, in India freedom of journalists and independent media are targeted so as to silence dissent. Dissent is an essential ingredient in democracy. Not surprisingly India today ranks 159th in World Press Freedom Index, 2024. Is a clear case of declining space for free speech in India. Release of Newsclick editor Prabir Purkayastha is welcome and upholds the struggle to restore free speech and Independent media.
Dr. Soma Marla, a retired Principal Scientist (Genomics), Indian Council for Agricultueral research, Delhi.
