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FIRs remind that Aprils are tough for journalists!
It was April 2017. I had just returned from abroad and resumed my job at Indian Express’s digital platform InUth.
It was April 2017. I had just returned from abroad and resumed my job at Indian Express’s digital platform InUth.
Then Chief Minister’s Office had filed complaint against me at the Press Council of India for filing story with “murderous intention” and thus had demanded my “arrest” and “blacklisting”.
It was a case pertaining to story I had filed in 2016 when I was briefly working for the Early Times Jammu.
I called my former bosses at the Early Times asking them that let me myself plead the case instead of a lawyer. The Early Times gracefully agreed.
I called my former bosses at the Early Times asking them that let me myself plead the case instead of a lawyer. The Early Times gracefully agreed.
And my Editor In Chief at Inuth, Kunal Majumdar, from whom I learnt a lot about making digital content, was generous enough to grant another leave.
At the PCI in New Delhi, I pleaded my case before the honorable jury for around 3 minutes.
At the PCI in New Delhi, I pleaded my case before the honorable jury for around 3 minutes.
And then, came the verdict “Majid Hyderi has done nothing professionally incorrect. The case against stands dismissed.”
But those days, most of the journalists wouldn’t want to displease Govt. Most of them remained silent.
But those days, most of the journalists wouldn’t want to displease Govt. Most of them remained silent.
Some time later, FIR was filed against senior journalist Saleem Pandith for filing a factually correct story. Many of the journalists didn’t remain silent. Some had actually asked Govt to arrest him.
