New Delhi: The Broadcast Editors Association and various other bodies representing Journalists community across India has strongly condemned the FIR against the Tribune reporter, who broke the story about Aadhaar data leaks, as an attack on free speech.
In a statement issued by the president of BRA Supriya Prasad and General Ajit Anjum, the BEA demanded immediate withdrawal of the police case against journalist Rachna Khaira, who has been charged under various sections of the IPC, including forgery and cheating.
“Such FIRs against journalists exposing systemic flaws is a spiteful kick in the teeth of Indian democracy and the right to free speech and expression,” BEA said. “The FIR against The Tribune’s Rachna Khaira must be withdrawn immediately,” the BEA demanded.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is rather expected to take media investigations into data leaks positively. With the Supreme Court declaring privacy a fundamental right, measures must be strengthened to protect Aadhaar data. “Shooting the messenger is no solution. It’s a toxic trend, which must stop forthwith,” the BEA noted.
In addition to BEA, Various press bodies including the Press Club of India, the Editors Guild, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association and the Mumbai Press Club on Sunday condemned the lodging of FIR against The Tribune reporter who exposed vulnerability of the Aadhaar data.
After a news report by The Tribune newspaper over breach in Aadhaar data punlished on 3rd January, the UIDAI has registered an FIR against the newspaper and reporter Rachna Khaira.
The FIR, lodged with the Cyber Cell of the Crime Branch, invokes serious charges under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), IT Act and Aadhaar Act.
The UIDAI on January 4 said its search facility for grievance redressal might have been “misused” but denied any breach or leak of Aadhaar data.
“If there is no breach, what is the offence they have supposed to have committed? Rather than addressing the loopholes which would actually ensure safety and security of the data and allay the general concerns about this, the UIDAI has chosen to persecute those whose actions appear to have been only in public interest, that is, drawing attention to the possibility of data insecurity before someone with ulterior motives is able to exploit them,” the statement said.
“We find the UIDAI’s move extremely intimidatory, obstructionist and inimical to the pursuit of free, fair and independent journalism. We demand that the complaint and the proceedings related to it should be withdrawn forthwith,” it said.
The Editors Guild of India, in a separate statement, said that is “deeply concerned” over reports that UIDAI had registered an FIR against the reporter of The Tribune who has been booked under IPC sections 419 (cheating under impersonation), 420 (cheating), 468 (forgery), 471 (using a forged document) and also under sections of the IT Act and the Aadhar Act.
“The Guild condemns UIDAI’s action to have the Tribune reporter booked by police as it is clearly meant to browbeat a journalist whose investigation on the matter was of great public interest. It is unfair, unjustified and a direct attack on the freedom of the press,” it said, demanding withdrawal of the police case and an “impartial investigation” into the matter.
The Mumbai Press Club too condemned the “unilateral action of the UIDAI for lodging an FIR” and underlined that the action “will be treated as nothing short of an attack on the privileges and rights of a free press”.
