Supreme Court to Hear Journalists’ Plea on October 15

The Supreme Court has scheduled petitions concerning Delhi Police’s treatment of women journalists covering protests for October 15 and asked a senior police officer to attend and explain the allegations. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant agreed to hear the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI) petition alongside related cases arising from protests in Delhi. The petition alleges that women journalists were assaulted, intimidated and arbitrarily detained while reporting, including after identifying themselves as members of the press. Those claims have not been established by the court. NWMI’s petition concerns journalists covering protests against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls on October 10 and 11. The organisation is seeking enforceable safeguards for police interactions with journalists at demonstrations, an independent inquiry and action against personnel found responsible. These are requests before the court, not findings or orders. A separate set of allegations concerns three women journalists who said they were sexually harassed during detention at a protest near Jantar Mantar on October 3.