Supreme Court seeks senior cop's presence after plea alleges sexual harassment of women journalists covering Delhi protests

A plea has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking safeguards for women journalists who were allegedly sexually harassed and manhandled by Delhi Police personnel while covering protests in the national capital.

A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana agreed to list the petition along with other cases arising from the protests on Thursday, October 15.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing in the matter, told the Court that the petition specifically concerned women journalists who had allegedly faced sexual harassment while covering the protests.

"This pertains specifically to women journalists facing sexual harassment during the course of protests. May it be put on the same date as the other petitions?" submitted Jaising.

She further informed the Bench that she had already given advance notice to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta regarding the plea.

Taking note of the submissions, CJI Kant said,

"I would like some senior officer to be present here to assist us or to explain."

The petition was filed by the Network of Women in Media, India, seeking safeguards for journalists covering protests, including protection against alleged assault, intimidation and arbitrary detention. The organisation has sought enforceable guidelines for police interactions with journalists during protests and public demonstrations, as well as an independent inquiry into the incidents and action against police personnel found responsible.

The plea follows allegations by women journalists who were covering protests in Delhi against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The journalists alleged that they were manhandled, detained and prevented from carrying out their professional duties despite identifying themselves as members of the press.

The allegations also follow a separate incident on October 3, when three women journalists accused Delhi Police personnel of sexual harassment during their detention at a protest near Jantar Mantar.

Delhi Police said the complaints had been transferred to its Crime Branch for an impartial inquiry.

The National Human Rights Commission had subsequently taken suo motu cognisance of the reported sexual harassment. It has sought a detailed report from the Delhi Police Commissioner on the allegations.

Notably, the Supreme Court, on October 11, had directed that lawyers, journalists and other professionals should not be hindered in discharging their professional duties while considering allegations of restrictions on movement and illegal detention during the protests.

The Court is now scheduled to take up the matter along with connected petitions on October 15.

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