Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Supreme Court seeks senior Delhi police officer over journalists’ harassment claims
The Supreme Court asked Delhi Police to send a senior officer to court on Thursday to address allegations involving women journalists at a protest in New Delhi.
The journalists were covering an October 10 protest calling for the chief election commissioner to resign.
A petition filed by the Network of Women in Media alleges that police personnel sexually harassed women reporters.
The court also has petitions raising concerns about police force against protesters, the handling of lawyers and detained students, and disruption caused by the protest.
Judges said they would examine the issues raised in the petitions and had already sought responses from senior government, police and metro officials.
The protest took place after the court had ordered that metro stations and train services should not be completely shut on the day.
The court extended the officials’ deadline to respond until Thursday, when it is due to hear the petitions.
The Supreme Court asked Delhi Police to send a senior officer to court on Thursday to respond to allegations that women journalists were sexually harassed while covering a protest.
The allegations concern police personnel and the October 10 protest calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
The Network of Women in Media filed a petition about the reported incidents, senior advocate Indira Jaising told the court.
The court said it would examine the issues raised in the petitions related to the protest.
It also extended until Thursday the deadline for senior officials to respond to contempt petitions concerning police and metro actions on the day of the protest.
- Who
- The Supreme Court asked Delhi Police to send a senior officer to court. Women journalists have alleged sexual harassment by police personnel.
- What
- The officer is to respond to allegations linked to journalists covering a protest.
- When
- The court made the request on Tuesday and asked the officer to attend on Thursday. The protest took place on October 10.
- Where
- The Supreme Court in New Delhi; the protest was at Jantar Mantar.
- Why
- The court said it wanted a senior officer to explain and assist it as it considered the allegations.
Petitioners supporting the protest
Petitioners questioning the protest
Protest
Petitioners supporting the protest
Some petitions supported the street protest and criticized police for not allowing it at Jantar Mantar.
Petitioners questioning the protest
Other petitions questioned the protest’s methods and the disruptions it caused in the city.
The Supreme Court issued an order restraining the complete closure of metro stations and train services in the capital on the day of the protest.
A protest calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation took place, and journalists later alleged they were sexually harassed by police personnel while covering it.
The Supreme Court held an extraordinary hearing about the protest and sought responses from senior officials over alleged breaches of its order.
The court asked Delhi Police to send a senior officer to address the journalists’ allegations on Thursday.
The court was due to hear the petitions and receive responses from senior officials.
- Protest date
- October 10
- Protest location
- Jantar Mantar
- Petitioning group
- Network of Women in Media
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Requested attendance
- A senior Delhi Police officer was asked to attend on Thursday
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What people are saying
We would like some senior police officer to remain present in the court to explain and assist the court.
Of course all the issues raised in all the petitions are serious and we would like to examine them.