Lessons from Gauri Lankesh’s murder trial , Pg7

Key Highlights:

• The trial for the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh, who was killed eight years ago, began in March 2022 and is still incomplete.
• The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that over 61 journalists have been killed in India since 1992 for their work.
• In 2024, India ranked 13 on the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)’s Global Impunity Index, which calculates unsolved journalist murders.
• The Press Council of India (PCI) has recommended special fast-track courts for journalist murder cases since 2016.

Detailed Insights:

• The slow pace of the Gauri Lankesh trial, with frequent adjournments and judicial transfers, has resulted in 17/18 accused being out on bail.
• Several journalist murder cases, such as Shujaat Bukhari in Kashmir and Rajdev Ranjan in Bihar, remain unsolved or have seen delayed justice.
• The murders of journalists are considered a direct assault on the public's right to know, violating Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and expression.
• India is obligated under international agreements like the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to protect media workers and ensure thorough investigations into attacks against them.
• The establishment of special courts for journalists, similar to those for politicians or crimes against women and children, is proposed to expedite justice and protect freedom of the press.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Article 19(1)(a): Guarantees freedom of speech and expression, considered the foundation of democratic organizations.
• Global Impunity Index: Calculates the number of unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country’s population.
• Fast-track courts: Special courts designed to expedite the resolution of cases, reducing delays in the judicial process.