Eminent journalist Vinod Dua suffering from Covid is free from “Sedition” charge

After restricting the YSR govt. including Andhra Pradesh police to initiate any coercive action and arresting the proprietor , staff n journalists of two news channels including reiterating that there is an urgent need to deeply analyse and redefine what is and not sedition, the highest court of the land today revoked the sedition charges against the eminent journalist Vinod Dua, who n his wife are seeking treatment for Covid 19 in one of the Delhi hospitals.

It may be recalled that a BJP leader of Himachal Pradesh namely Shyam had lodged an FIR against a popular senior journalist and news analyst Vinod Dua complaining about targetting prime minister Narendra Modi in one of his YouTube channel that he had misused the terrorist attacks and the deaths of innocent persons for deriving political mileage and votes etc. It also charged him for spewing venom against the PM. The FIR of sedition was launched under the provisions of IPC in the Kumar Sen police station of Himachal Pradesh by a local leader which also included offences like public nuisance , printing of defamatory materials and public mischief on May 6 th in 2020 directing the veteran journalist to join the investigations.

However, the bench of Apex Court had on July 7 accorded him protection from being the victim of any coercive action and possible arrest by Himachal Pradesh police till further orders.

This was indeed a great reprieve for the senior journalist. Other than Vinod Dua other senior journalists viz Mrinal Pandey, the former chief editor of Hindustan Hindi, editor of TV Today Rajdeep Sardesai and Anant Nag were also rapped with sedition charges.

The press Club of India and several media organisations like DUJ, Press Association etc had held silent protest demonstrations and meeting at the PCI premises demanding immediate withdrawal of this draconian act and charges against the journalists, accusing the government of muzzling and stifling the voice of journalists as well as freedom of speech enshrined in our constitution.

Several journalists of U Tube channels were also slapped these serious charges during the famers movement.

The verdict on the matter of senior journalist was kept reserved by the joint Bench of justices of supreme Court viz Justice U. U Lalit and Vineet Saran, after hearing the arguments of Himachal govt and the advocate of the senior journalist but had given him protection from any coercive action and possible arrest.

Just few days ago on Monday, the bench headed by Justice Dhananjay Y. Chandrachud while restraining the Andhra Pradesh government for initiating any coercive or adverse action against the two news channels of Andhra Pradesh booked under Section 124 ( Sedition) of Indian Penal Code said that we are of the view that the ambit and parameters of the provision of Sections, 124 A, 153 A,( promoting enmity between classes) and 505, ( creating enmity) of IPC would require interpretation, especially in the context of the electronics and print media to further disseminate information, news n rights of free expression even if they are against the prevailing governments said the Supreme Court in its order.

The two News channels against whom sedition charges have been wrapped are Andhra Jyoti and TV5, Telegu Channels.

Featured pic: courtsey OP India