Gauri Lankesh case

In a show of resolve, the Supreme Court has revived the organised crime charges against an accused in the murder case of journalist Gauri Lankesh that took place in Bengaluru in 2017, making the possibility of getting bail during the trial more difficult. While this may provide some hope, the apex court will also have to take the case to its logical conclusion, having overturned an earlier ruling of the Karnataka High Court that had dropped the organised crime charges, on the ground that the HC had “glossed over the core and tangible facts” and that the police approval seemed not to “suffer from any infirmity”. The killing of Gauri Lankesh was as much about trying to stifle the freedom of speech and expression as it was about the politics of intolerance and the ideology of hatred.

In the death of Gauri Lankesh, several pertinent questions cropped up among which is the safety of journalists in general and women journalists in particular. The occupational hazards encountered in living up to professional commitments and the opposition faced make the task of performing one’s duty tough. There have been several incidents of journalists being assaulted in other states, too, which show the risks involved as well as the indifference of not only the governments in these states but also of their administrative machinery. It is hoped that the court’s stance might send the right message and help in bringing down such incidents, for in a democracy, resorting to violence is not a substitute for opposition to an ideology. For governments keen only on celebrating their achievements, it might well point to the fact that pursuit of justice can be relentless.

The Supreme Court has given several landmark decisions of late to make up for the gaps in the functioning of the executive and the legislature. But that only makes its job tougher. It should ensure that investigation in the case is properly carried out. The police and other state agencies should also cooperate. The apex court remains the only bulwark against the raging religious right-wing impunity.

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