People's Democracy

Press Ethics and Arushi Double Murder Case

THE Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) in a statement on January 15 expressed concern at the coverage of the Arushi double murder case in the Times of India of January 7, 2012. It has asked the Press Council of India to initiate suo moto action on the basis of the coverage, which is against journalistic ethics.

In a letter written to the PCI Chairman, the DUJ has complained against the lurid and objectionable details of the CBI report which clearly defames and maligns the young girl’s character.

The report titled “Hemraj-Aarushi intimacy proved fatal” blatantly highlights the name of a young girl, along with descriptions of her alleged sexual behaviour, and the alleged actions of her mother, which are graphic and gory and have not been proved in court.

The publicising of a CBI report on such a sensitive matter, concerning a young girl, who has been done to death, violates all norms of decency. It casts aspersions on Aarushi’s character and defames her. It violates all norms of journalistic ethics.

The DUJ and its Ethic Council have urged the Press Council of India to take suo moto action against the Times of India and reprimand it for this unethical, highly insensitive and irresponsible reportage.