New Delhi, 15 October (H.S.): The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider constituting a committee to investigate allegations of sexual violence against women journalists during recent protests in Delhi. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant observed that the proposed panel could comprise predominantly or exclusively women members.

“We are also prima facie in agreement that the committee in your matter should consist predominantly or entirely of women. It could include a former woman judge, a former woman IPS officer, a former woman social worker or a social activist with a good track record,” the Chief Justice observed.

The court made these remarks after senior advocate Indira Jaising raised the issue in a petition filed by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI). The petition seeks protection for journalists covering protests, including safeguards against alleged physical assaults, intimidation and arbitrary detention.

Women Journalists Face Particular Vulnerabilities While Reporting: Jaising

Jaising submitted that women journalists face particularly vulnerable circumstances while reporting from protest sites. She emphasised that their presence at demonstrations was connected not only with their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful protest, but also with their right to perform their professional duties.

“When they go to a protest site, they constitute a distinct category because they have not only the right to speak and the right to protest, but also the right to work. They go there to discharge their professional duties by exercising their right to work,” Jaising argued.

She alleged that women journalists had been pushed and manhandled during protests, particularly by male police officers. She clarified that this did not mean female police personnel had not engaged in similar conduct, alleging that women officers had also pushed journalists.

Jaising argued that such conduct amounted to harassment and that when it was perpetrated by male officers, it could constitute sexual harassment.

Plea Seeks Independent Inquiry and Compensation for Victims

Jaising urged the Supreme Court to issue immediate directions, particularly for the constitution of a committee to investigate complaints made by women journalists. She also asked the court to consider compensation for individuals who had experienced violence, including alleged sexual violence.

She further submitted that the proposed committee should function independently of the inquiry committee already constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate the student protests held at Jantar Mantar on July 20.

Allegations Follow Incident Near Jantar Mantar on October 3

The allegations follow a separate incident on October 3, when three women journalists accused Delhi Police personnel of sexual harassment after they were detained during a protest near Jantar Mantar.

Earlier, on October 11, the Supreme Court had directed that lawyers, journalists and other professionals must not be prevented from performing their professional duties during protests.

The latest proceedings concern the need for appropriate safeguards to protect journalists covering demonstrations, particularly women journalists who allege that they faced harassment and violence while carrying out their work.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar