SC extends protection to journalist Vinod Dua in sedition case

Blurb: Directs Himachal Police to file status report, further hearing on July 15

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 7

The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended protection from arrest till July 15 to senior journalist Vinod Dua who is facing a sedition case in Himachal Pradesh.

A Bench led by Justice UU Lalit directed the Himachal Pradesh Police to file report on probe into the case in a sealed cover and posted the matter for further hearing on July 15. The Bench said if satisfied with the petitioner’s contentions, it would quash the FIR.

Noting that it wanted to verify if the case was pursued in “right earnest”, the Bench made it clear that it intended to dispose of the case on the next hearing. The top court made it clear that Dua need not answer the supplementary questionnaire.

Questions like why did Dua — with 45 years of experience in journalism — relied on another newspaper article for his reportage was not relevant, it said, adding such questions didn’t form any empirical evidence in a sedition case.

“Won’t it amount to stay?” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta wondered.

On behalf of Dua, senior advocate Vikas Singh asserted that journalists were free to criticise the government and sedition was not made out as he didn’t incite violence and created public disorder. The Supreme Court had on June 14 refused to stay the probe into the sedition case but protected Dua from arrest.

The Shimla FIR has been registered at the instance of Himachal Pradesh BJP leader Ajay Shyam who filed criminal complaint against Dua accusing him of instigating violence against the government by allegedly spreading fake news.