Allahabad HC Stays FIR Against Journalist Over Lucknow School Report, Calls Action ‘Retaliatory’

The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench has stayed further proceedings in an FIR against journalist Amit Yadav, who had reported alleged deficiencies at a government school in Lucknow. The court observed that the police action appeared, prima facie, to be retaliatory and said filing an FIR against a journalist after he brought deficiencies in a government school to public notice was akin to “killing the messenger.”

A bench of Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Pramod Kumar Srivastava passed the order on September 9 on a petition filed by Yadav against the FIR registered at Gosainiganj police station in Lucknow.

According to Yadav’s counsel, the journalist had visited the Upper Primary School at Begariamau in Gosainiganj in his professional capacity. He reportedly found the school’s toilets in a dilapidated condition and alleged that drinking water was not available for students. He also interviewed teachers about the condition of the school.

The petitioner told the court that his report was published four days before the FIR was registered on August 24.

During the hearing, the court observed that the FIR appeared, prima facie, to have been lodged as a retaliatory measure following the journalist’s report on deficiencies at the government school.

The bench stayed further proceedings pursuant to the FIR against Yadav.

The court also directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Basic Education Department to file a personal affidavit disclosing the present condition of the school and to annex photographs of its premises.

The order was passed on Yadav’s petition challenging the FIR.