The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday declined to grant urgent relief to journalists of Anandabazar Patrika who are facing FIRs over the newspaper’s use of the phrase “Gerua Gundagiri”, or “saffron hooliganism”, while reporting violence at Jadavpur University.
Senior Advocate S.N. Mookherjee, appearing for the journalists, sought urgent intervention from Justice Saugata Bhattacharya, saying multiple criminal cases had been registered following the publication of the headline.
The journalists have filed a petition seeking quashing of the FIRs.
Court Says Petition Should Follow Regular Procedure
Mookherjee told the court that the journalists were facing allegations of attempting to incite communal sentiments and argued that the matter required immediate attention.
“It had been said I am inciting communal interest. Three incidents have happened. I need urgent relief,” Mookherjee submitted.
The court indicated that the appropriate remedy was to seek quashing of the FIRs.
“I am seeking quashing,” Mookherjee responded.
The court, however, declined to specially list the matter for an urgent hearing and said it should be taken up through the regular procedure.
“File it, it will come as per presentation form,” the court observed.
When Mookherjee pressed for urgent listing, the bench said several petitions seeking quashing of FIRs were already pending before it.
“I am not fixing any matter now because many quashing matters are pending before me,” the court said.
The lawyer clarified that the matter was “not political at all” and requested the court to consider the situation faced by the journalists.
The court reiterated that it could not specially list the petition.
“I cannot start fixing matter. It will come. There are not many matters. It will be taken up. If not, you can remind me. I am not allowing,” the court said.
Mookherjee later sought permission to approach the court again if circumstances changed.
“Kindly give us liberty to mention in case the situation changes. Two senior ladies have been hauled up,” he said.
The court asked the lawyers to first file the petition and indicated that they could subsequently attempt to have it taken up.
FIRs Over Jadavpur University Violence Report
The FIRs were registered after Anandabazar Patrika used the expression “Gerua Gundagiri” in its report on clashes at Jadavpur University on August 20.
The violence took place during a general meeting of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Students’ Union. Members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Left-affiliated student groups accused each other of starting the violence and alleged that outsiders had been brought onto the campus.
Several students were injured and taken to hospital.
The ABVP is affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is also the ideological parent organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
The FIRs reportedly name members of the Anandabazar Patrika editorial team, including editor Ishani Dutta Roy and chief reporter Soma Mukherjee.
Protest Outside Newspaper Office
The court hearing came a day after a group of men allegedly linked to Hindutva organisations protested outside the Anandabazar Patrika office in Kolkata.
The protesters smeared saffron paint on the newspaper’s building and raised slogans objecting to the use of the phrase “Gerua Gundagiri”.
Videos shared on social media showed police personnel standing near the protesters as they painted parts of the building.
The newspaper later repainted the walls.
