Journalists' 'harassment': SC seeks senior cop's presence

NEW DELHI: Taking cognisance of allegations that women journalists were sexually harassed by police personnel while covering the Oct 10 protest for resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, Supreme Court Tuesday asked Delhi Police to depute a senior officer to the court on Thursday to respond to the charges. Senior advocate Indira Jaising said that 'Network of Women in Media' has filed a petition narrating the incidents of sexual harassment of women reporters during the anti-SIR protest on Saturday. When Jaising said she has already served an advance copy of the petition to solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who is representing Delhi Police, a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana said, "We would like some senior police officer to remain present in the court to explain and assist the court." The day also saw senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia and Mahesh Jethmalani mentioning a petition seeking initiation of criminal contempt action against political leaders for storming SC on Monday evening and obstructing access to SC's petition filing counter, thus blocking the access to justice. The reference was clearly to leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc members who were part of a procession to SC on Monday. Bhatia and Jethmalani sought a ban on political activity inside the court's premises and preservation of CCTV footage of Monday evening. During an extraordinary hearing on Sunday - on the Oct 10 protest - SC had found authorities to have prima facie breached its Oct 9 order restraining complete closure of metro stations and train services in the capital on the day of protest. It had sought responses from Union home secretary, Delhi Police commissioner and Delhi Metro chief on contempt petitions filed against them. It had also sought a status report from police on petitions accusing use of excessive force on protesters, who were not allowed to assemble at Jantar Mantar. More journalists, senior advocate G Sankaranarayanan said, have filed contempt petitions, two of them, as well as a writ petition related to the protest. SC had directed that professional activities of lawyers, journalists and other professionals would not be hindered. He said the issues are serious. The CJI Kant-led bench said, "Of course all the issues raised in all the petitions are serious and we would like to examine them." On the alleged manhandling of advocates Shadan Farasat, Dinesh Dwivedi and Uttara Babar, a separate petition by lawyers was mentioned by senior advocate C U Singh.

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While a clutch of petitions were in favour of the street protest and castigating police action in not permitting protest at Jantar Mantar on Oct 10, there were a few stood out as they questioned the protest, its modus operandi and serious disruptions it caused in the city, hindering free movement of the silent majority and impeding their daily work. Given the rush of petitions to SC and the fact that Justice Mohana was attending court despite having fever, CJI Kant said all petitions would be taken for hearing Thursday. The bench also accepted the solicitor general's request for extension of time till Thursday for home secretary, Delhi Police commissioner and Delhi Metro chief to file their responses. Senior advocate Nithya Ramakrishnan, appearing for Apoorvanand Jha, alleged that students who were detained by police on Oct 10 were tortured in police custody.

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