The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an application alleging that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi pushed a three-month-pregnant journalist during a march inside the court complex on October 12. The matter is likely to be taken up on October 26 or 27.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi agreed to consider the application after senior advocate Gaurav Bhatia brought it to the court’s attention. Bhatia informed the bench that the application had been filed in an already pending case concerning incidents involving journalists and lawyers.
The application alleges that a woman journalist was physically mistreated on the Supreme Court premises during the march. Bhatia had earlier claimed that the journalist required hospitalisation following the alleged incident involving Gandhi.
Allegation First Raised During Thursday’s Hearing
The issue had initially come before the Supreme Court on Thursday, when the bench was hearing petitions relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, protests in Delhi and incidents connected with the October 12 march towards the Supreme Court.
During those proceedings, Bhatia drew the court’s attention to the alleged treatment of a pregnant journalist. He submitted that Gandhi had pushed the woman within the Supreme Court complex despite her being three months pregnant.
Bhatia also informed the bench that the journalist had subsequently been hospitalised and requested judicial intervention over the alleged incident.
The court directed him to place the allegations on record through a formal application, indicating that it would examine the issue.
Court Had Granted Protection to Another Journalist
Thursday’s proceedings also involved a separate case concerning a woman journalist facing criminal proceedings following a complaint by a Delhi Police officer.
The officer had accused the journalist of making caste-based remarks against him and publicly humiliating him during a demonstration near Jantar Mantar.
While considering the matter, the Supreme Court directed that no coercive action be taken against the journalist.
The broader proceedings also addressed allegations of assaults involving journalists and lawyers during the October 12 march.
Following the bench’s direction, the application concerning the alleged incident involving Gandhi was placed before the court on Friday.
The bench agreed to list the matter for hearing later this month, indicating October 26 or 27 as possible dates.
