New Delhi, June 26, 2017: The Editors Guild of India on Monday condemned the recent Karnataka Assembly decision of sentencing two senior journalists to jail terming it as “gross misuse” of power.
The Guild wanted immediate withdrawal of what it called “pernicious” resolution against the journalists that violated the fundamental right of freedom of speech.
"The Guild hopes that wisdom will prevail and the Karnataka Legislative Assembly will immediately take corrective measures and withdraw its pernicious resolution against the two journalists," said the Guild in a statement.
Karnataka Assembly had sentenced two senior journalists to jail for a year and imposed fine of Rs 10,000 on each of them for ‘defaming’ lawmakers in their writings.
In the Guild’s view, the Assembly cannot and should not misuse its powers and privileges to try journalists for defamation as this right is vested with the courts of law.
"The Editors Guild of India is of the firm view that journalists must have the freedom to write critical articles against all such elected representatives of the country and hold them accountable without fear or favour," said the statement.
The journalists included editor of tabloid ‘Hi Bangalore', Ravi Belagere and editor of another tabloid ‘Yelahanka Voice’ Anil Raju.
Both were accused of writing "defamatory" articles about the Speaker and a few members of the legislature, including a member of the House Privileges Committee which recommended the sentence.