During the Ramnath Goenka Awards for Excellence in Journalism, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud emphasized the crucial role that a free press plays in maintaining democracy. He noted that the vibrancy of a democracy is compromised when the press is prevented from speaking truth to power. He highlighted the historical importance of newspapers in catalyzing social and political change, which is why press freedom must be maintained. The Chief Justice acknowledged the challenging conditions in which many journalists work, and their relentless dedication in the face of adversity and opposition.
The day before the Chief Justice spoke, a prominent Kashmiri journalist, Irfan Mehraj, was arrested under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on terror funding charges. The arrest of Irfan has raised concerns among top journalist collectives in India, including the Press Club of India and the Editors Guild of India, who have demanded his immediate release. Irfan is a well-known journalist who has contributed to leading news publications such as The Indian Express, Al Jazeera, Himal Southasian, DW, and TRT World. He is the founding editor of Wande Magazine and currently works as a senior editor at TwoCircles.net.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has claimed that Irfan Mehraj is the first arrest in the “NGO-terror funding case.” Khurram Parvez, a Kashmir human rights activist, is also an accused in the same case and is currently incarcerated.
The Chenab Times News Desk