An Internet watchdog and a journalists’ group have launched an online free legal aid platform where mediapersons can seek advice, second opinion on their legal strategy and pre-publication review while lawyers representing scribes can ask for counsel on technology-related matters.
The Digital Patrakar Defence Clinic (DPDC), based in Delhi with lawyers from the Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF), is promoted by the Forum for Media Professionals.
Started on September 5, the clinic’s brochure mentions the Anil Ambani group’s defamation case against The Wire news portal for its reports on the Rafale deal, and the arrest of Manipur journalist Kishorechandra Wangkhem for a Facebook post contesting claims that cow excreta can cure Covid as examples of journalists they would like to defend.
“Over the last few years, India has slipped 20 ranks in the World Press Freedom Index. Journalists are exposed to police violence, ambushes by political activists, reprisals by criminal groups and prosecution for sedition. We believe that India urgently requires innovative strategies employed by principled and committed lawyers who are experienced in dealing with a diverse range and skills, including in criminal prosecution, civil lawsuits, physical violence, Internet shutdowns, website blocking and illegal surveillance. The Internet Freedom Foundation has several years’ worth of experience in these matters,” the clinic’s project manager, Tanmay Singh, told The Telegraph.
Lawyers Abhinav Sekhri and Sanjana Srikumar are leading the clinic with support from fellow professionals Apar Gupta, Vrinda Bhandari, Anandita Mishra and Singh.
Singh said: “Our members are assisting Ipsa Shatakshi and Rupesh Kumar Singh, among other journalists, on writ petitions relating to the use of (the) Pegasus (spyware) on their mobile phones before the Supreme Court. The DPDC has already provided advice on matters relating to civil and criminal defamation.”
The IFF is fighting several free speech and privacy cases, including the Internet shutdowns in Kashmir, WhatsApp’s privacy policy and the repealed Section 66A of the Information Technology Act that continues to be used. Sekhri and Srikumar also represent environment activist Disha Ravi who had been arrested over a “toolkit” supporting the movement against the Narendra Modi government’s new farm regime.
Reporters who need to see a lawyer for their work can fill a form on internetfreedom.in and get a link for a personal online consultation with Sekhri or Srikumar. This month, four-hour-long sessions are scheduled.
The clinic is open to “all media workers and support staff, community media workers, cartoonists and citizen journalists”. Publications can also contact them for a clinic session for their employees.
“In order to effectively defend themselves against legal threats related to their reportage, journalists must be aware of their rights under the Constitution of India, including their right to freedom of speech and expression. In today’s climate, journalists must also have close and direct communication with their legal team in order to de-risk themselves from potential legal action,” Tanmay added.
