This is an archive article published on November 26, 2024
J-K news portal issued notice over claims that its reporting ‘pitches elected representatives against administration’
On November 10, activist Rehmatullah Padder of Doda was booked under the PSA by the district administration, which accused him of being an overground worker (OGW) and citing five FIRs against him.
On November 10, activist Rehmatullah Padder of Doda was booked under the PSA by the district administration, which accused him of being an overground worker (OGW) and citing five FIRs against him.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Information & Public Relations department has sought an explanation from a news portal for a report about the detention of an “environmental activist” under the Public Safety Act (PSA).
The letter accuses the portal of “pitching the elected representative against administration” and states that the “tone and content… tried to put the administrative procedure in a bad light”. It also warns of action if the news portal fails to “explain (its) position”.
“The content of your video clearly pitches elected representatives against administration,” reads the notice issued to The Chenab Times, a news portal from Doda district. “The tone and content of your video tried to put the administrative procedure in a bad light and empathised with the person who has been booked under relevant laws/norms by following due process of law,” it states.
On November 10, activist Rehmatullah Padder of Doda was booked under the PSA by the district administration, which accused him of being an overground worker (OGW) and citing five FIRs against him. Padder’s family and colleagues, however, said he was booked for exposing alleged corruption in a sewage treatment plant.
His detention was also criticised by Doda MLA Mehraj Malik. “This young man is detained under PSA today, yesterday he raised questions on district administration for their failure. This area couldn’t be cleaned but he is arrested now. This is Swachh Bharat of Modi,” Malik posted on X, urging the chief minister to set-up a “judicial or legal committee to examine the dossier’s authenticity” as “most cases are quashed in the first hearing as they are often rooted in revenge”.
Responding to the public outcry over the detention, the district administration asked people “not to be misguided”. “It is to clarify that an OGW has been detained after following due process of law on grounds totally different from what is being circulated on social media. Request to general public/prominent citizens and elected representatives not to be misguided in (the) above stated case,” the Doda District Administration posted on Facebook.
In a video report, The Chenab Times reporter said that the district administration’s post is ostensibly in response to Malik’s post on X.
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“It (the Facebook post) didn’t name any legislator,” District Information Officer Nasir Khan told The Indian Express. “Journalism should be ethical and peaceful. How can someone criticise the administration?” said Khan, who issued a notice to the online news portal.
Asked whether he believes the administration and its decisions are above criticism, Khan said he is “just a cog in the wheel”. “I got directions from above, from the district administration, and only followed them,” he said. “Please ask the district administration about it.”
The Doda Deputy Commissioner, Harvinder Singh, who slapped the PSA against the activist, said it is a 15-day-old news and some “vested interests” want to highlight it.
Bashaarat Masood is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express. He has been covering Jammu and Kashmir, especially the conflict-ridden Kashmir valley, for two decades. Bashaarat joined The Indian Express after completing his Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University in Kashmir. He has been writing on politics, conflict and development. Bashaarat was awarded with the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2012 for his stories on the Pathribal fake encounter.
Expertise and Experience
Two Decades of Frontline Reporting: Bashaarat has spent 20 years documenting the evolution of Kashmir, from high-intensity conflict and political shifts to socio-economic development.
Award-Winning Investigative Journalism: He is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award (2012). This honor was bestowed for his reporting on the Pathribal fake encounter, a series of stories that highlighted his ability to handle sensitive human rights and security issues with investigative rigor.
Specialized Beats: His authoritative coverage spans:
Political Transitions: Tracking the shift from statehood to Union Territory, electoral dynamics, and the pulse of local governance.
Security & Conflict: Providing nuanced reporting on counter-insurgency, civil liberties, and the impact of the conflict on the civilian population.
Development: Documenting the infrastructure, healthcare, and educational landscape within the Valley.
Academic Background: He holds a Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism from the University of Kashmir, providing him with a localized academic and professional foundation that is rare in regional reporting. ... Read More
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