HAS THE TIMES OF INDIA COMMITTED CONTEMPT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN ITS REPORT ON ABU ASIM AZMI?

The Times of India, Mumbai has published a news report titled: 'Why is Abu Azmi under Sena fire?' by Yogesh Naik on July 10, 2006, when the city was just recovering from the three days' events involving mob demonstrations in Bhiwandi and later in the city by Shiv Sena protesting desecration of the statue of the late wife of Shiv Sena Chief Bal Thackeray, Minatai Thackeray near Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar.

In the report, while giving a short history of Abu Asim Azmi's career, TNN reporter Yogesh Naik writes:

'Azmi, who was accused of helping the serial blasts perpetrators flee the country, fought the case till the supreme court, where Chief Justice Ahmedi discharged him.'

The clear communal angle of the reporting cannot be mistaken. Times has allowed to be printed a clear slur on Supreme Court, as any decision of the supreme court, cannot be attributed to any single judge and made out as if the judgment was a result of communal bias or favour.

The Times of India appears to be in clear contempt of court and the Supreme Court should suo moto take up the case to ensure that India's prime newspaper should not be allowed to use its medium to attribute communal bias to Supreme Court judges in such blatant manner. TOI clearly insinuates in the report that Azmi was discharged by Chief Justice Ahmedi of the Supreme Court on communal grounds rather than on facts of the case.

TOI's blatant communal bias against Indian Muslims in general and against some Muslims in particular, for the supposed crime of just being Muslims and openly standing up for Muslim causes, has become its permanent agenda and thus is a ongoing threat to the communal peace in the country. Some accountability for the media should be in place either through fresh legislations or judicial interventions, so that this trend may not threaten communal peace, and the security and integrity of the nation.

GHULAM MUHAMMED, MUMBAI