Mangalore : Speaking on the arrest of Kasturi Channel reporter Naveen Soorinje, Justice Micheal F Saldanha (Rtd) said that the arrested of the reporter is a crucial issues relating to the constitutional guarantee of Freedom of Speech and Expression with special reference to the attacks on the members of the Media in DK district.

He was speaking at the press meet held at Hotel Woodland hall on Nov 28, Wednesday. He said that the safety and freedom of the journalistic fraternity in the state is seriously undermined by the Police action in the case of Journalist Naveen Soorinje and PUCL condemn this act.

He also said that this is a case of infringement of human rights, liberty of a citizen and wrongful confinement. The Constitution mandates that the courts in this country have to be not only vigilant but have to safeguard the citizens against such infringements. The duty to grant Anticipatory Bail and Bail in cases of impending breach and actual breach are the Constitutional safeguards which the Law provides for.

The essence of these provisions mandates that the relief has to be both speedy and effective and if this does not happen, it is a failure on the part of the subordinate judiciary. In view of the fact that in this and several other cases this has been happening, the end result is that there is an endorsement by the courts of the wrongful act on the part of the police.

Saldanha said that in this case the police are wrong and so is the magistrate, because they have charged against him with conspiracy. The police had even charged the case of absconding which is not true.

If the police department found Naveen to be guilty, then they would have arrested him next day or in a week or even in a month but not after five month of the incident, which is purely conspiracy.

PUCL members PB D’Sa, Suresh Bhat Bakrabail, David D’Souza, Roshan Lobo and others were present.