ಶಾಂತಾರಾಮ ನೀನೂ ರವಿಯ ದಾರಿ ಹಿಡಿದೆಯಾ..?

 ಶಾಂತಾರಾಮ ನೀನೂ ರವಿಯ ದಾರಿ ಹಿಡಿದೆಯಾ..?

2020ರ ಡಿಸೆಂಬರ್ 14.

ಶಾಂತಾರಾಮ, ನೀನೇ ಫೋನ್ ಮಾಡಿದ್ದೆ. ನಾನು ಊರಲ್ಲಿದ್ದೆ. ರವಿ (ವೈ. ರವಿ, ಏತಡ್ಕ) ನಮ್ಮನ್ನು ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಹೋದ ಎಂಬ ಆಘಾತದ ಸುದ್ದಿ ಕೊಟ್ಟೆ. ರವಿಯನ್ನು ಅಗಲಿದ ನೋವು ಇನ್ನೂ ಹೋಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಕೇವಲ ನಾಲ್ಕು ತಿಂಗಳುಗಳು ಕಳೆದಿವೆ.

ಇಂದು 2021 ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 23. ಸೂರ್ಯ ವಜ್ರಾಂಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದ ಫೋನ್ ಕರೆ ದಿಕ್ಕೆಡಿಸಿತು. ಶಾಂತಾರಾಮ (ಶಾಂತಾರಾಮಭಟ್, ಇಟಗಿ ಸಿದ್ದಾಪುರ) ನೀನೂ ರವಿಯ ಬೆಂಬತ್ತಿಕೊಂಡು ಹೋಗಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟೆಯಲ್ಲ…

ಸಂಯುಕ್ತ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ಹಿಡಿದು ಪ್ರಜಾವಾಣಿಯ ಸೇವೆ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿ, ನಿವೃತ್ತಿಯ ಬಳಿಕವೂ ಮುಂದುವರೆದ ನಮ್ಮ ಸ್ನೇಹಕ್ಕೆ 33 ವರ್ಷಗಳಿಗೂ ಹೆಚ್ಚಿನ ಇತಿಹಾಸ. ಜೊತೆಯಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡಿದ ದಿನಗಳಷ್ಟೇ ಅಲ್ಲ, ಹಳ್ಳಿಗಳಿಂದ ಬಂದು ಬೆಂಗಳೂರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಂತ ತನ್ನಂತಹವರಿಗೆ ಸೂರು ಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ನಡೆಸಿದ ಪ್ರಯತ್ನಗಳು, ಮನೆಕಟ್ಟಿಕೊಂಡ ರಾಮಕೃಷ್ಣ ಹೆಗಡೆ ನಗರದ ಶ್ರೀ ಬಾಲಾಜಿ ಕೃಪಾ ಬಡಾವಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಲಭೂತ ಸೌಕರ್ಯಗಳಿಗಾಗಿ ಪಟ್ಟ ಶ್ರಮ, ಜೊತೆಗೆ ನ್ಯಾಯಕ್ಕಾಗಿ ಮಾಡಿದ ಹೋರಾಟಗಳ ನೆನಪು ಕೂಡಾ ಎಂದಿಗೂ ಮರೆಯಾದಂತಹುದು. ಹೈಕೋರ್ಟಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಹೂಡಿದ್ದ ನಿವೃತ್ತಿ ವಯೋಮಿತಿ-ವೇತನ ಏರಿಕೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರಕರಣ ನ್ಯಾಯಮೂರ್ತಿಗಳ ಮುಂದೆ ಬರುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ಕೆಲವೇ ದಿನಗಳ ಹಿಂದೆ ವಕೀಲರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ತಗಾದೆ ಕೂಡಾ ತೆಗೆದಿದ್ದೆಯಲ್ಲ?

ಆದರೆ, ಶಾಂತಾರಾಮ ಎಂತಹ ಸನ್ನಿವೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀವಿಬ್ಬರೂ ಹೊರಟು ಬಿಟ್ಟಿರಿ. ದಿನದಿಂದ ದಿನಕ್ಕೆ ಉಲ್ಬಣಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕೊರೋನಾ ಸೋಂಕು ಕೊನೆಯ ಗಳಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕೂಡಾ ಮುಖ ನೋಡದಂತೆ ಮಾಡಿ ಬಿಟ್ಟಿತು.

ಏನೂ ಬರೆಯಲಾಗುತ್ತಿಲ್ಲ…. ಕ್ಷಮಿಸು ಶಾಂತಾರಾಮ, ಕ್ಷಮಿಸು ರವಿ.

ನಿಮ್ಮ ಆತ್ಮಗಳು ಒಟ್ಟಾಗಿ ಶಾಂತಿ ಪಡೆಯಲಿ. ಕುಟುಂಬ, ಬಂಧು ವರ್ಗದವರಿಗೆ ದುಃಖ ಭರಿಸುವ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು ಭಗವಂತ ನೀಡಲಿ.

-ನೆತ್ರಕೆರೆಉದಯಶಂಕರ

ಲಾಕ್ ಡೌನ್ ನೆಪವೊಡ್ಡಿ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರಿಗೆ ಕೊಕ್: ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ನೋಟಿಸ್

ಲಾಕ್ ಡೌನ್ ನೆಪವೊಡ್ಡಿ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರಿಗೆ ಕೊಕ್: ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ನೋಟಿಸ್

ನವದೆಹಲಿ : ಕೋವಿಡ್ ವೈರಸ್ ಹಾವಳಿ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತೀವ್ರ ಮಟ್ಟದ ಆರ್ಥಿಕ ಬಿಕ್ಕಟ್ಟು ಉಂಟಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ಉದ್ಯೋಗಿಗಳನ್ನು ಕೆಲಸದಿಂದ ತೆಗೆದು ಹಾಕುತ್ತಿರುವುದನ್ನು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಕೆಯಾಗಿರುವ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರ ಅರ್ಜಿಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರ,  ಇಂಡಿಯನ್ ನ್ಯೂಸ್ ಪೇಪರ್ಸ್ ಸೊಸೈಟಿ,  ಮತ್ತು ಸುದ್ದಿ ಪ್ರಸಾರಕರ ಸಂಘಕ್ಕೆ  ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ 2020 ಏಪ್ರಿಲ್ 27ರ ಸೋಮವಾರ ನೋಟಿಸ್ ಜಾರಿ ಮಾಡಿತು.

ನ್ಯಾಯಮೂರ್ತಿಗಳಾದ ಎನ್.ವಿ. ರಮಣ, ಸಂಜಯ್ ಕಿಷನ್ ಕೌಲ್ ಮತ್ತು ಬಿಆರ್. ಗವಾಯಿ ಅವರನ್ನು ಒಳಗೊಂಡ ತ್ರಿಸದಸ್ಯ ಪೀಠವು ಪ್ರಕರಣವು ಹಲವಾರು ಗಂಭೀರ ವಿಷಯಗಳನ್ನು ಎತ್ತಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಅದನ್ನು ಪರಿಗಣಿಸುವ  ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿತು.

ಕೋವಿಡ್ ಕಾರಣ ನೀಡಿ ಕೆಲವು ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರು,ಹಾಗೂ ಇತರೆ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಯನ್ನು ಕೆಲಸದಿಂದ ತೆಗೆದುಹಾಕಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ.ಅನೇಕರಿಗೆ ವೇತನ ಕಡಿತಗೊಳಿಸಲಾಗುತ್ತಿದೆ. ಇದರಿಂದ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರು ಹಾಗೂ ಅವರ ಕುಟುಂಬದವರು ಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿ ಭಾರತೀಯ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರ ಸಂಘದ ಶೈಲೇಂದ್ರ ಕುಮಾರ್ ಪಾಂಡೆ, ದೆಹಲಿ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರತ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರ ಸಂಘದ ಸುಜಾತ ಮಾಡೋಕ್,ಹಾಗೂ ಬೃಹನ್ ಮುಂಬೈ ಕಾರ್ಯ ನಿರತ ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತರ ಸಂಘದ ಇಂದ್ರಕುಮಾರ್ ಜೈನ್ ಸುಪ್ರೀಂಕೋರ್ಟ್ ಗೆ ಅರ್ಜಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ್ದರು.

ಕೋವಿಡ್ ನೆಪ ಹೇಳಿ ಮುದ್ರಣ,ಇಲೆಕ್ಟ್ರಾನಿಕ್ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಯಾವುದೇ ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಗಳು ತಮ್ಮ ಸಿಬ್ಬಂದಿಯನ್ನು ಕೆಲಸದಿಂದ ತೆಗೆಯದಂತೆ ನಿರ್ದೇಶನ ನೀಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಕೋರಿದ್ದರು.

 ಅರ್ಜಿಯ ವಿಚಾರಣೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ ನ್ಯಾಯಪೀಠ ಈ ಪ್ರಕರಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸಬೇಕಾದ ಮಹತ್ವದ ಅಂಶಗಳಿವೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿ ನೋಟಿಸ್ ಜಾರಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಬಳಿಕ ವಿಚಾರಣೆಯನ್ನು ಎರಡು ವಾರಗಳ ಅವಧಿಗೆ ಮುಂದೂಡಿತು.

ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿ, ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತ ನಾಡೋಜ ಡಾ. ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ ವಿಧಿವಶ

ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿ, ಪತ್ರಕರ್ತ ನಾಡೋಜ ಡಾ. ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ ವಿಧಿವಶ

ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿ: ಕನ್ನಡ ಪತ್ರಿಕೋದ್ಯಮ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಕ್ಷೇತ್ರದಲ್ಲಿ ‘ಪಾಪು’ ಎಂದೇ ಖ್ಯಾತರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಹಿರಿಯ ಸಾಹಿತಿ ಶತಾಯುಷಿ ಡಾ. ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ ಅವರು  2020 ಮಾರ್ಚ್ 16ರ ಸೋಮವಾರ ರಾತ್ರಿ  ವಿಧಿವಶರಾದರು.  ಅವರಿಗೆ ೧೦೧ ವರ್ಷ ವಯಸ್ಸಾಗಿತ್ತು. ವಯೋಸಹಜ ಅನಾರೋಗ್ಯದಿಂದ ಬಳಲುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಡಾ. ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರು ಕಳೆದ ಕೆಲವು ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ಹುಬ್ಬಳ್ಳಿಯ ಕಿಮ್ಸ್ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿಕಿತ್ಸೆ ಪಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದ್ದರು.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಗಡಿಭಾಗದ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಅಸ್ಮಿತೆಯ ಪರ ಹೋರಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಂಚೂಣಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದ ಪಾಪು, ಹಲವಾರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಪರ ಹೋರಾಟಗಳ ನೇತೃತ್ವವನ್ನು ವಹಿಸಿ ಈ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞೆಯಾಗಿ ಎಲ್ಲರಿಗೂ ಮಾದರಿಯಾಗಿದ್ದರು. ಡಾ, ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರು ಬೆಳಗಾವಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದಿದ್ದ ೭೦ನೇ ಅಖಿಲ ಭಾರತ ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಸಮ್ಮೇಳನದ ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರಾಗಿದ್ದರು.

ಪ್ರಪಂಚ’ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯ ಸಂಪಾದಕರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರು ತಮ್ಮ ಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಈ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಕನ್ನಡದ ಅರಿವನ್ನು ಜನಸಾಮಾನ್ಯರಲ್ಲಿ ಮೂಡಿಸುವ ಕೆಲಸವನ್ನು ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದ್ದರು. ‘ತರಂಗ’ ವಾರಪತ್ರಿಕೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಕಟವಾಗುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಡಾ. ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರ ಅಂಕಣ ಬರಹ ‘ಪಾಪು ಪ್ರಪಂಚ’ ಅವರ ಬರಹದ ವೈಶಿಷ್ಟ್ಯತೆಯನ್ನು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಜನರಿಗೆ ಪರಿಚಯಿಸಿತ್ತು. ‘ವಿಶ್ವವಾಣಿ’ಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥಾಪಕರೂ ಆಗಿದ್ದರು.

ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು ಬಹುಸಂಖ್ಯಾತರಾಗಿದ್ದ ಗಡಿಭಾಗದ ಪ್ರದೇಶಗಳ ಒಗ್ಗೂಡುವಿಕೆಗೆ ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸಿ ೧೯೪೦ ಹಾಗೂ ೧೯೫೦ರಲ್ಲಿ ನಡೆದಿದ್ದ ಹಕ್ಕೊತ್ತಾಯ ಹೋರಾಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರು ಮುಂಚೂಣಿಯಲ್ಲಿದ್ದರು.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಏಕೀಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ ಒತ್ತಾಯಿಸಿ ಡಾ. ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪನವರು ೧೯೪೮ ದಾವಣಗೆರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊಟ್ಟ ಮೊದಲ ನಿರ್ಣಯವನ್ನು ಹೊರಡಿಸಿದ್ದರು. ಆ ಮೂಲಕ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷಾವಾರು ಪ್ರಾಂತ್ಯಗಳ ಒಗ್ಗೂಡುವಿಕೆಗೆ ಪಾಪು ಅವರು ಮೊದಲ ಅಡಿಗಲ್ಲನ್ನು ಸ್ವಾತಂತ್ರ್ಯ ದಕ್ಕಿದ ಆರಂಭದ ವರ್ಷಗಳಲ್ಲೇ ಹಾಕಿದ್ದರು ಎಂಬುದು ವಿಶೇಷ.

ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಕವಿ ಲೇಖಕರು’, ‘ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಂಗೀತ ಕಲಾರತ್ನರು’, ‘ಬದುಕಲು ಬೇಕು ಬದುಕುವ ಈ ಮಾತು’, ‘ನೀವು ನಗಬೇಕು’, ‘ನೆನಪಿನ ಬುತ್ತಿ’, ‘ಮಾತು ಮಾಣಿಕ್ಯ’, ‘ಕನ್ನಡದ ಕಂಪು’, ‘ಸುವರ್ಣ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ’, ‘ಪುಸ್ತಕ ಸಂಸ್ಕೃತಿ’ ಮೊದಲಾದ ಕೃತಿಗಳ ಮೂಲಕ ಪಾಟೀಲ ಪುಟ್ಟಪ್ಪ ಅವರು ಕನ್ನಡ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಲೋಕದಲ್ಲಿ ತಮ್ಮ ಛಾಪನ್ನು ಮೂಡಿಸಿದ್ದರು.

ಕನ್ನಡ ವಿಶ್ವವಿದ್ಯಾನಿಲಯ ಕೊಡಮಾಡುವ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತ ನಾಡೋಜ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸಾಹಿತ್ಯ ಪರಿಷತ್ ನಿಂದ ೨೦೦೮ರಲ್ಲಿ ನೃಪತುಂಗ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ, ೨೦೧೦ರಲ್ಲಿ ವೂಡಿ ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ಹಲವಾರು ಪ್ರಶಸ್ತಿ, ಸಮ್ಮಾನ ಗೌರವಗಳು ಈ ಶತಾಯುಷಿ ಸಾಹಿತಿಯನ್ನು ಅರಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಬಂದಿದ್ದವು.

ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಬಿ.ಎಸ್.  ಯಡಿಯೂರಪ್ಪ ಸೇರಿದಂತೆ ನಾಡಿನ ಗಣ್ಯರು ಪಾಪು ನಿಧನಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂತಾಪ ವ್ಯಕ್ತ ಪಡಿಸಿದರು.

#MeToo Allegations: MJ Akbar ‘Resigns’

 #MeToo Allegations: MJ Akbar ‘Resigns’

New Delhi: Junior foreign minister MJ Akbar has resigned from the Union Cabinet on Sunday, 14^th October 2018 following allegations of sexually harassing women during his days as a senior journalist.

According to News18 report, Akbar, who returned from an official trip to Nigeria, sent his resignation to Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra and has sought time to meet External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

According to government sources, Akbar’s position had become “untenable” after multiple women spoke out against him as part of the #MeToo movement, which has seen big names from the field of literature, entertainment, journalism and advertising being shamed for alleged sexual harassment. Sources added that other ministers had been complaining about being asked to comment on Akbar at every public event.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party has maintained a studied silence on the matter so far, party sources said the charges against him are serious. There is also a view within the party that there is no legal case against him, and allegations pertain to a time long before he became a minster. BJP chief Amit Shah is currently on a two-day tour of poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.

Akbar was first called out by journalist Priya Ramani, who had last year written about his alleged inappropriate behaviour for a magazine without taking his name. She confirmed this week that the allegation was against Akbar.

‘I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t “do” anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they’ll share’ Priya Ramani wrote.

Akbar, who has been the editor of prominent newspapers like The Telegraph, Asian Age and The Sunday Guardian, is a member of the Rajya Sabha from the BJP.

In her article, Ramani had said “Akbar is an expert on obscene phone calls, texts, inappropriate compliments and not taking no for an answer.” “You know how to pinch, pat, rub, grab and assault. Speaking up against you still carries a heavy price that many young women cannot afford to pay,” her article said.

Detailing how he made her uncomfortable, she said he had called her for a job interview to a “plush south Mumbai hotel” when she was 23 and he was 43. Akbar did not meet Ramani in the hotel lobby and insisted that she meet him in his room. There, he offered her a drink. Although she refused, he drank vodka, sang old songs to her and asked her to sit close to him, she alleged. MJ Akbar has not yet responded. He is currently in Nigeria.

Soon after Ramani’s account, more women journalists came forward with their stories. A journalist named Shuma Raha said Akbar called her to his hotel room for an interview for Asian Age in Kolkata's Taj Bengal in 1995. She said that he didn't "do" anything, but “an interview sitting on a bed in a hotel room followed by an invitation to come over for a drink that evening was rattling and deeply uncomfortable". She said she declined the job offer.

I must clarify, however, that he didn't actually "do" anything. But the whole experience of an interview sitting on a bed in a hotel room followed by an invitation to come over for a drink that evening, was rattling and deeply uncomfortable, Shuma Raha wrote.

He was this brilliant,flamboyant #editor who dabbled in politics, who called me-my 1st job- to his hotel room to 'discuss work', after i put the edition to bed-read midnight, & made life at work hell when i refused.,cudnt speak up due to various compulsions, but yes #MeTooIndia, wrote Prerana Singh Bindra.

SC upholds as valid Majithia wage boards, awards

SC upholds as valid Majithia wage boards, awards

New Delhi, Feb 7:  In a morale booster for working journalists and newspaper employees, the Supreme Court Friday upheld the validity of the Majithia wage boards, observing their  recommendations for wage hike are based on genuine considerations. It also junked newspaper organisations' challenge to the constitutional validity of the working journalists and newspaper employees act.

Journalists Association of Karnataka (JAK) President Prof. Harischandra Bhat, in a statement hailed the Supreme Court Judgment and thanked all Journalist and Non-Journalist Employees Organisations like Bangalore News Paper Employees Union (BNEU), National Union Of Journalists (NUJ), Confederation of Newspaper Employees, PTI & UNI Employees Union etc. for striving hard unitedly for achieving this success .

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Uppala Laxman & Secretary General Prasanna Mohanty aslo hailed the Supreme Court Judgment.

Here are the reports from IANS & PTI regarding Supreme Court Verdict on Wage Board and reactions of JAK & Nation Union Of Journalists (JAK).

IANS Report:
 In a morale booster for working journalists and newspaper employees, the Supreme Court Friday upheld the validity of the Majithia wage boards, observing their  recommendations for wage hike are based on genuine considerations.

It also junked newspaper organisations' challenge to the constitutional validity of the working journalists and newspaper employees act.

Justice G.R. Majithia was appointed chairman of the two wage boards for journalists and non-journalists in 2009, and his recommendations wage hikes for both categoriers of newspapwer employees were notified by the government Nov 11, 2011.

A bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said: "Accordingly, we hold that the recommendations of the wage Boards are valid in law, based on genuine and acceptable considerations, and there is no valid ground for interference under Article 32 of the Constitution of India."

Upholding the validity of the Majithia wage boards, the court said: "The wages as revised/determined shall be payable from Nov 11, 2011, when the government notified the recommendations of the Majithia wage Boards."

"All the arrears up to March 2014 shall be paid to all eligible people in four equal instalments within a period of one year from today and continue to pay the revised wages from April 2014 onwards," the court said in its order.

Examining the challenge to the constitutional validity of the Working Journalist Act, Chief Justice Sathasivam, pronouncing the judgment, said the court was of the opinion that the challenge to the act "is wholly unfounded, baseless and completely untenable".

Addressing the contention by the newspaper organisations that the wage boards have not taken into account regional variations, the court said: "It is clear from the report that the wage Boards have categorized the HRA and transport allowance into X, Y and Z category regions, which reflects that the cost on accommodation and transport in different regions in the country was considered."

The court also rejected the newspaper organisations' objection to the appointment of former law secretary K.M.Sahni and journalist P.N.Prasanna Kumar as independent members of the board.

"Merely because K.M. Sahni was a part of the government that took the decision to set up the wage Boards, does not automatically follow that he ceased to be an 'independent' member of the wage Boards. We are satisfied that K.M. Sahni is an independent member of the Board and cannot be considered to be 'biased' in any manner."

"The contention of the petitioners alleging bias against independent members of the wage Boards, being based merely on their past status, is entirely baseless in law and amounts to imputing motives," the court concluded.

Furthermore, the court said that "there is gradation of variable pay and allowances according to the size of the establishments wherein smaller establishments are required to pay those at a lower rate compared to larger establishments".

"Hence, we are satisfied that the wage Boards followed certain well laid down principles and norms while making recommendations."

Rejecting the objections to the procedure followed by the wage boards, the court said: " Numerous such incidental contentions vis-a-vis procedure adopted by the wage Boards were alleged which, in our considered view, are not of such grave nature that it calls for withdrawing the recommendations of wage Boards."

"In this light, after having exhaustively gone through the record of proceedings and various written communications, we are fully satisfied that the wage Boards' proceedings had been conducted and carried out in a legitimate approach and no decision of the wage Board is perceived to having been taken unilaterally or arbitrarily."

It also described as "not correct" the newspapers' contention that the boards copied the Sixth Pay Commission blindly.

"The concept of 'variable pay' contained in the recommendations of the Sixth Central Pay Commission has been incorporated into the wage Board recommendations only to ensure that the wages of the newspaper employees are at par with those employees working in other government sectors."

"Such incorporation was made by the Majithia wage Board after careful consideration, in order to ensure equitable treatment to employees of newspaper establishments, and it was well within its rights to do so," said the court.

--Indo-Asian News Service

PTI Report: 

 The Supreme Court today upheld the recommendations of Majithia wage Board for journalists and non-journalists on their pay structure and directed that the revised salaries be granted to the employees.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said that the revised pay structure should be given to the employees from November 11, 2011 when the Centre notified the recommendations of the Board.

It said that new pay structure would be given from April 2014 and the employer will have to pay arrears within a year in four instalments.

"We hold that the recommendations are valid," the bench said, adding that the Board had followed proper procedures in giving its recommendations and the allegations levelled against it and its constitution are not right.

The bench dismissed the pleas filed by various newspaper managements challenging the validity of the Board's constitution and its recommendations.

"We are fully satisfied that the procedure adopted by the Board is legitimate and no decision was taken unilaterally and arbitrarily and there is no irregularity in the procedure, the bench said.

The bench also said that the recommendations by the Board regarding variable pay is also within its jurisdiction.

"It cannot be held that wage structure is unreasonable," it said.

The court in January this year had reserved its verdict on the pleas of the newspapers.

The 6th (Majithia) wage Board was constituted by the Labour Ministry in 2007 despite strong reservations from the newspaper industry, and thereafter announced an adhoc interim relief of 30 per cent of basic pay with effect from January 2008. This was implemented by the industry despite the heavy financial burden.

The wage Board submitted its final recommendations on December 31, 2010, which were notified by the Centre with certain modifications, a year later on November 11, 2011. PTI 

JAK HAILS:

It is a great victory for Working Journalists and Non Journalist Employees of Newspapers. We must congratulate those journalist organizations who fought for justice and the role played by Journalists' Association of Karnataka, National Union of Journalists (India), Confederation of Newspaper Employees, Dr.N.K.Trikha, Shri Rajendra Prabhu, Com.M.C.Narasimhan for working day in and day out for the success. I wish to thank all those who helped me to present the Memorandum to the Jt.Majithia Wage Board during its sitting at Bengaluru namely, the DH&PV Employees Union, Newspaper Employees Union headed by Com.M.C.Narasimhan, Indian Express employees Union, UNI and PTI Unions.

While celebrating the success it would be our endeavour to see that all the Newspaper Employers to implement the recommendations of the Wage Board totally and completely.

I once again congratulate the members of JAK and BNEU for the success, delayed but not denied !

Sathyameva Jayathe !

- Prof.B.Harishchandra Bhat, President Journalists' Association of Karnataka

NUJ WELCOMES:

New Delhi: “The National Union of Journalists (India) hails the Supreme Court's decision rejecting the petitions of the newspaper managements on the Majithia Wage Board Recommendations and the Government’s subsequent notification on the issue of newspaper employees wage fixation. The Court has called for payment of wages of both journalist and non-journalist employees of newspaper establishments as per the new scales from November 2011 and implementation from April 2014.

The NUJ(I) welcomes this as a great victory of the newspaper employees, journalists and non-journalists together who fought the managements attempts to block the wage revision that came after 12 years in particular and working class in general at a time when the employers have been pressuring government to deny workers their due under the pretext of globalisation and liberalisation. The Government has also done the right thing to stand by justice to workers in notifying the Majithia Boards’ recommendations with minor modifications. The credit for the success in the case goes to the Confederation of All unions of the newspaper employees including the NUJ(I) under the leadership of the PTI Federation Secretary Mr. M.S. Yadav. 

The NUJ(I) considers this success as a challenge for the newspaper employees, more specifically working journalists to stand united and beat the managements’ attempts to impose an illegal contract system on them and also work together for the advancement of ethical journalism against attempts to dilute and disfigure it by various outside and inside forces.

Uppala Laxman                    Prasanna Mohanty

President                              Secretary General

Karantaka Journalists submit memo to Governor

Karantaka Journalists submit memo to Governor

Bangalore: As a part of the National agitation of National Union of Journalists (India), Journalists' Association of Karnataka (JAK) submitted a memorandum to His Excellency Hans Raj Bharadwaj, Hon'ble Governor of Karnataka on Friday 23rd June 2012, stressing the need to protect journalists from all kinds of astroscities, attacls. fpr,atopm pf


JAK delegation was led by the President Prof. B. Harischandra Bhat, Gen. Secretary Nethrakere Udaya Shankaranarayana Bhat, Vice President Venugopalan and Organising Secretary Ompprakas Agarwal.


His Excellency, the Governor received for memorandum and agreed to forward the same with strong recommendations to the  Hon'ble Prime Minister. The delegation thanked Shri Hans Raj Bharadwaj for the patient hereing and kind action. 


Here is the full text of Memorandum:


Dr. Manmohan Singhji,
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India


Through 
Shri Hans Raj Bharadwaj,


Honorable Governor of Karnataka, 
Raj Bhavan,
Bengaluru,


Demand for comprehensive security legislation for journalists’ protection, formation of Media Council and implementation of Wage Board recommendations.


Respected Sir, 


Working journalists all over the country are shocked at the rising trend of physical assaults on them and their killings in offices, homes and on streets. Attacks are mostly carried out by individuals and groups often supported and backed by political parties and influential persons wielding power who fear exposure of their wrong deeds and true selves.


Over 190 attacks on journalists have been documented in different States in the recent past. In Assam alone, for instance, at least one journalist has been fatally attacked every year during the past 14 years for refusing to file report as per the instructions of either the terrorists or the police.


The situation is no different in the naxal-affected areas. It has worsened with the rise of what is called ‘conformance’ in political parlance, threat to mafias that grab land and other resources with political support, blind hero-worship of political personalities and the general atmosphere of intolerance and appeasement. Reporters, cameramen and other media personnel are always exposed to vandalism and physical assaults by groups feigning victimization. The police do not intervene in time or effectively -- more often they reach the spot much after the occurrence despite getting informed.


The National Union of Journalists (India) to which we the members of Journalists Association of Karnataka are affiliated had on different occasions brought it to the notice of the authorities concerned and sought immediate redressal also. But, we are sorry to state that, such individual instances are generally being dealt with as merely a law and order issue, and are invariably lost in police records sans any concrete action. Everyday journalists are facing new types of threats. The situation has become so drastic and critical that it now requires drastic solutions to protect journalists which only the Central Government and Parliament can provide.


We take this opportunity to make it very clear that we are not asking for police protection for every working journalist. 


The lack of a specific legal mandate to the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order to protect working journalists and other media staff compels us to demand protection from vandals and mafia-paid criminals for our tribe. To obviate this lacuna and demand entitlement to protection against physical assaults the journalists need a specific and comprehensive law to be enacted.


There is a need for a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act with clear provisions of registering complaints in police stations on intimidation, attack or torture of journalists and also that all such complaints should be investigated by a SP/DCP level police officer. Failure to nab the culprit should be turned into a black mark on the concerned police officer’s ‘Performance Record’. 


We also want that the investigation of all such complaints should be conducted within two days and action taken / ensured against the culprits. Moreover, whenever a journalist is assassinated or attacked the case should be heard in a fast track court to ensure timely justice. It is essential keeping in view the fact that no action is taken against culprits for months and sometimes years even after registration of FIR. 


It is imperative to mention here as also demand that in grave situations of any type media persons covering them should not be treated as crowd. The police should be directed to help and provide complete information to the media so that all concerned persons get correct information. If the authorities feel that it causes trouble in rescue operations, the administration can organise training camps to impart basic training required for covering such events. 


A rising trend has been noticed in the recent past that racketeers – social, commercial as also religious – have started launching newspapers with the twin nefarious designs i.e. to become self-appointed editors or to put a ‘YES MAN’ of their choice as dummy editor to misuse the privileges to their benefit as also to befool the masses by casting their spell over them. The most funny side of such editors is that they have no professional standing. we the state unit NUJ (I) condemn such racketeers and to protect the professional ethics and standards of Indian journalism demands that the definition of a journalist should be mentioned in unambiguous terms in the proposed Journalist Protection Act. The Journalists Association of Karnataka (JAK) is determined to press for such national legislation and will agitate for it and address Parliament, State legislatures and political parties on its immediate promulgation. 
The Journalists Association of Karnataka(JAK) also demands that the Central government to take steps to force the newspaper managements to implement the recommendations made by the Journalists’Wage Board headed by Justice Majithia, immediately.


Keeping in view the present media situation, the unhealthy trends in both the print and electronic media and the new challenges of the online media as well as emerging trends in various sections of society impacted by the media, we feel the Government of India should take early steps to set up a Media Council to guide the progress of the sector into a robust fourth estate supporting and promoting diversity and freedom in this largest constitutional democracy in the world. The NUJ(I) has been making this demand for quite some years ever since the electronic media emerged as a powerful factor in our mass communication environment. We are now encouraged by the recent expression of strong support to this demand by the new chairman of the Press Council, Mr. Justice (retd.) Markandeya Katju who himself is the author of many significant judgments in the Supreme Court.


Newpapers, in most cases, apparently on the behest of their owners have stopped reporting Press Council’s decisions as they often tend to expose the weaknesses and creeping viruses in the Press. In the electronic media the so-called publishers’ regulatory bodies have been ignoring the emerging basic trends and only dealing with peripheral wrong doings. The Central Government as well as State governments are making either desultory or politically motivated moves in their relationship with media. The Centre’s weakness was recently exposed when it quietly withdrew instructions to the electronic media in the context of the public concerns about certain events in the TV coverage. 


All this exposes the absence of a robust mechanism that is authentic voice of sanity and public concern and democracy in regard to media content. The JAK therefore strongly stresses the demand for Media Council being set up by a new law expanding the Press Council legislation to take care of the emerging media environment. We want the provisions in the proposed Media Council which not only help in keeping a watch on the media but also protects the interests of the working journalists. Such an effective body can be created within the Journalist Protection Act only.

Scheme for Healthcare of Journalists

 Scheme for Healthcare of Journalists 

 Bangalore: The Journalists' Association Karnataka, the State Unit of NUJ(I), has requested the Karnataka Chief Minister Shri. Sadananda Gowda, to kindly include in the forthcoming State Budget a free (cashless) healthcare scheme for all journalists and their dependants.

It was on the request of JAK that Shri. B.S.Yeddyurappa, the then Chief Minister had announced in the State Budget of 2009 the inclusion of journalists in the Yashasvini Scheme of Healthcare which was otherwise exclusive for farmers and members of Cooperative Societies in the State.

However, the budget proposal was not implemented till date. Perhaps the Government was not yet ready to include journalists in the Yashasvini Scheme.

On Friday, 17th February 2012, during the book release function of senior journalist Sri Arjundeva, Prof. B. Harishchandra Bhat, the President of JAK utilized the opportunity to meet Shri Sadananda Gowda at his Home Office, to request him to devise a new program of Healthcare in the forthcoming State Budget for all
journalists and their dependents. The scheme could be called "Maadhyama Chaithanya" on the lines of "Arogya Chaithanya " meant for school children.

This would inspire the journalists to serve the people in general and their readers in particular, with all sincerity and integrity.

'Chief Minister Sri D.V.Sadananda Gowda responded positively and agreed to consider our request,' Prof. Bhat told and thanked the Chief Minister for  his positive response.

Pls click the images for larger views of Memorandums submitted and news appeared in Suvarna Times of Karnataka.