Kolkata, Sept. 3 -- The Calcutta High Court on Thursday secured an assurance from the West Bengal government that no coercive action would be taken against journalists of Anandabazar Patrika in connection with FIRs over the use of the expression "Gerua Gundami" (saffron hooliganism), as long as they comply with notices issued to them.
The assurance came after Senior Advocate S N Mookherjee, appearing with Advocates Arunabha Deb and Ashika Daga, raised the issue before the court. He argued that the criminal cases appeared to proceed on an allegation that the newspaper's reporting had incited people or insulted sanyasis.
Mookherjee told the court that the dispute was not about political protection for the newspaper but concerned journalists facing criminal proceedings. He clarified that the journalists were not seeking any privilege beyond that available to an ordinary citizen.
The state opposed any blanket protection. Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Mazumdar submitted that the journalists would have to cooperate with the investigation and comply with the notices served on them.
During the hearing, the court asked Mookherjee if he was familiar with the term "saffron vandalism". He said he was, adding a reference to his father.
The court recorded the state's assurance that no coercive steps would be taken until the matter was considered, subject to compliance with the notices.
The FIRs stem from objections to the newspaper's use of "Gerua Gundami" while reporting on alleged violence at Jadavpur University.
The journalists have moved the High Court seeking relief from the criminal proceedings.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.