Top Court To Take Up Petition On Arrested Kerala Journalist's Rights

The Supreme Court will take up a petition by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists seeking the fulfilment of the basic rights, like legal help and access to family, for its secretary Siddique Kappan who is in custody from October 5. He was arrested while on his way to Hathras in Uttar Pradesh where the alleged gang-rape, torture and death of a 20-year-old woman had triggered widespread outrage. The state government arrested Siddique Kappan for allegedly spreading communal hatred under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and Information Technology Act. The journalists' body said neither his lawyers nor his family have been able to meet Mr. Kappan in Mathura jail. They said this amounted to "denial of his fundamental rights". It urged the Supreme Court to direct the Mathura District Judge or the High Court judge to enquire into the alleged human rights violations of prisoners inside the Mathura jail. In the earlier hearing, the top court had asked the journalists' association to move the High Court.