By TCN Special Correspondent,
Lucknow: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday ordered restraining both print and electronic media from reporting on the movement of troops. The order was passed while taking up the PIL No 2685/2012 which was filed by Dr Nutan Thakur, Convener National RTI Forum, Lucknow.
The Bench comprising Justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice V K Dixit in the Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench in their order today said: “we think it appropriate to direct that there is no reporting/release of any news item by the Print as well as Electronic Media relating to the subject matter, namely, the movement of troops.”
The Court gave this direction to the Secretary, Home Affairs, and the Secretary, Information & Broadcasting, Government of India and the Principal Secretary (Home), Government of U.P. The Court also said that it was giving this order without interfering with the independence of media and keeping in view the fact that the news items relating to movements of troops have already engaged the attention at the highest level in the defence as well as in the Government.
The Court further said that the issue of movement of Army troops is not a matter of the kind which should require public discussion at the cost of defence official secrecy and the security of country. The Court ordered that the petitioner, a social activist and freelance journalist, in her submissions expressed her grave concern over the media reporting on this subject which, if permitted to continue, may seriously interfere with the handling of security matters by Army, particularly the movements of troops from the strategic point of view in the field as well as peace areas.
Dr Thakur had filed this Writ Petition in regards to two controversial news article related to supposed Army coup and a senior Union Minister planting this news published recently in two newspapers. She had prayed that both the matter shall be immediately enquired into by a high level Judicial Enquiry commission. She has made the Prime Minister’s Office the respondent
in this PIL.
The Court said that a copy of this order shall be issued today to the officials concerned as well as to learned Additional Solicitor General of India/Assistant Solicitor General of India and learned Chief Standing Counsel for immediate compliance.