APUWJ welcomes Supreme Court order

Our Correspondent

Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) has welcomed Friday’s Supreme Court order staying the Meghalaya High Court’s order on the editor and publisher of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim and Shobha Chaudhuri.

The earlier order issued by the High Court, which imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh for each of the defendants, brought deep distress to journalists across the country.

In a statement, the APUWJ said the threat to ban the publication of a newspaper that has been in operation for over 70 years by the court if the two were unable to pay the penalty should be condemned by all.

The APUWJ believes that even the ceasing of publications that may have their own leanings and editorial stance is ultimately a threat to free speech. Whether we agree or disagree with a view, it is our duty to let another have an opinion on an issue. Democracy is enriched by the different dissenting voices and the closure of a newspaper only weakens a country. It is heartening to learn that the Supreme Court has shown maturity in its handling of the case and has struck down the order, it said.

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