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New York, August 10, 2001—Yesterday's scheduled contempt of court
case against journalist Vineet Narain has been postponed due to violence
in Jammu and Kashmir State, the trial venue. It is not known when the
next hearing will be held.
Narain is the founding editor of the New Delhibased investigative journal
Kalchakra. He faces contempt charges based on a December 16,
2000, Kalchakra article in which Narain alleged that Jammu and
Kashmir High Court justice T.S. Doabia had been unduly influenced by
his friendship with Indian Supreme Court chief justice A.S. Anand in
deciding a land dispute.
Jammu City was placed under curfew after three Muslim militants opened
fire at a local train station on August 7, killing 11 people, according
to international press reports. The curfew went into effect on August
8 and prevented Narain from reaching the court, the journalist told
CPJ via e-mail.
Narain, who is currently in hiding, said that the Jammu and Kashmir
High Court could not convene as planned due to "hostile conditions in
Jammu."
The curfew was lifted yesterday, August 9, according to Indian and international
press reports.
Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has not yet responded to a July
6 letter from CPJ and Human Rights Watch urging him to order an immediate
inquiry into possible political motivations behind Narain's prosecution,
and to provide him with adequate security protection during the trial.
CPJ reiterated these requests in a separate letter that was faxed to
the prime minister on August 8.
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