ITANAGAR, Mar 15: The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) has welcomed Friday’s Supreme Court order staying the Meghalaya High Court’s judgment which held the editor and publisher of The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim and Shobha Chaudhuri guilty of contempt of court.
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. APUWJ feels that the threat to ban the publication of a newspaper of repute that has been in operation for over 70 years by the court in case the duo were unable to pay the penalty is condemnable.
The APUWJ believes that ceasing of publications that may have their own leanings and editorial stance is ultimately a threat to free speech. Agreements and disagreements over an issue are normal, but it is the duty of the journalists to ensure free flow of opinions, the union stressed.
Democracy is enriched by the different dissenting voices and the closure of a newspaper only weakens a country, but it is heartening to learn that the Supreme Court has shown maturity in its handling of the case and has struck down the order, APUWJ said.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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