PRESS
RELEASE
Tehelka
Case Wake Up Call for Media: Indian Media Centre (IMC)
New
Delhi, November 25, 2013: The
Indian Media Centre strongly condemns the prima facie serious case of sexual
harassment of a young woman journalist by Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal and
demands that the matter be probed thoroughly by the authorities concerned in
the interests of probity in the media.
No
corporate or editorial head can set the terms of his own punishment. The
magazine’s management should have taken prompt action on the basis of the Vishakha
guidelines laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. The malafide and
serious dereliction of duty on the part of the management and its opting for an
‘internal inquiry’ in such a serious matter cannot be condoned and is not
acceptable. It is a clear cut case of
institutional failure and the law of the land must take its course.
The
unfortunate incident should also serve as a wakeup call for the entire media to
institutionalize mechanisms where even the minutest instance of the violation
of the Vishakha guidelines is taken congnizance of and it is ensured that the
law takes it course.
The
Government on its part must notify the relevant laws with immediate effect and
provide for a mechanism to ensure compliance. It is suggested that this work be
entrusted to the National Commission for women.
The IMC
shall also be organizing a National Consultation on the issue with all stakeholders
and like minded organizations in the near future.
Indian Media Centre is an independent, non-profit institution
dedicated to the highest standards in journalism - print, electronic and
Internet. It has 16 chapters across the
country.
Dr
Chandan Mitra, K G Suresh
Chairman,
IMC Director, IMC
(Editor-in-Chief,
The Pioneer) (Editor, Vivekananda International Foundation)
Prof B
K Kuthiala Prof Shivaji Sarkar
V ice-Chairman,
IMC National Secretary, IMC
Vice-Chancellor,
Makhanlal Chaturvedi
National
University of Journalism, Bhopal
