IFJ Calls for Immediate Release of Editor Arrested in
India
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is alarmed to learn of the
arrest of B.V. Seetaram, chairman and chief editor of Chitra Publications, by
police in the district of Udupi in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.
Seetaram, whose principal publication is the evening newspaper, Karavali Ale,
published from the adjoining district headquarters town of Mangalore, is
reportedly being held on charges of defamation filed two years ago. He was
arrested while travelling with his wife through Udupi district by car. The
police have also detained his wife who is a director of Chitra Publications.
When produced before a magistrate in Udupi on January 5, Seetaram reportedly
refused to move for bail, since there were political forces in his home
district who were allegedly intent on causing him harm.
Reports received by the IFJ suggest that the police had no arrest warrant when
they took Seetaram into custody.
"We are opposed in principle to criminal defamation laws and the arrest of an
editor is a matter of serious concern," said Jacqueline Park, IFJ Director for
the Asia Pacific.
The IFJ is informed that Seetaram had in December 2008 lodged a complaint with
the Press Council of India (PCI), alleging that there were systematic efforts
afoot by political forces in Karnataka, to prevent the distribution of his
newspaper on a regular basis.
The PCI has since issued notice to the local authorities, asking them to
investigate these complaints.
The IFJ learns that Seetaram and his newspaper have been targeted by the
authorities in Karnataka on earlier occasions too. He and his wife were
arrested in March 2007 on charges of fomenting animosity on grounds of
religion, though the case was not brought to trial.
A few days before Seetaram and his wife were arrested last year, their offices
were broken into and valuable assets either destroyed or stolen.
"We understand that some incidents of communal conflict witnessed in Mangalore
and its adjoining areas over the last few months have sharply polarised public
opinion", said the IFJ Asia Pacific.
"Though Seetaram has been accused of fomenting animosity on grounds of
religion, we are informed that he has done little else than name names of
those responsible for the recent bouts of violence in the area".
"We urge the local authorities to ensure that the situation is not aggravated
by invoking rarely used powers of suppressing the right of free expression
through the press".
The IFJ calls for the immediate release of Seetaram and his wife and a full
explanation from the Karnataka state police on the motivations behind its most
recent acts of persecution against the press.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 123 countries
AMU to start new course in Islamic Banking & Finance
Bhopal, January 6 (Pervez Bari): The Aligarh Muslim University, (AMU), will
start a new course in Islamic Banking and Finance to meet the increasing
demand of trained personnel in Islamic Finance from the next academic session.
This was decided by the Academic Council of AMU as there is a world-wide
interest in the Islamic Banking and facilitating its teaching at the
University level is the need of the hour. Aligarh Muslim University is the
first to introduce such a course in India.
The Academic Council also approved several major changes in the admission and
other rules and regulations pertaining to the research programmes. The
Academic Council prescribes for a University level combined test for admission
to M. Phil. and Ph.D. courses instead of departmental tests. The NET and JRF
qualified candidates would be exempted. Every research scholar will have to
attend department every day. The Academic Council, however, prescribed a
30-day leave in a year for all the research scholars. The attendance of every
research scholar would be sent by the department to the office of Dean of the
concerned Faculty.
In order to put premium on academic excellence and providing the students with
more opportunities to interact with the teachers the working hours of all the
departments and colleges of Aligarh Muslim have been increased from 8:00 am –
2:30 pm to 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. This was resolved in the meeting of Academic
Council held in the University on Sunday.
According to a Press release issued by Dr. Rahat Abrar, Public Relations'
Officer in AMU, Vice Chancellor of AMU Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis, presiding over
the meeting of Academic Council, said that the working hours on Fridays will,
however, remain the same from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon. The change in the working
hours of the University departments is made in line with the guidelines of
University Grants Commission, (UGC), that stipulates that all the teachers
remain present in the Department for at least 40 hours in a week. He said that
with the implementation of the decision, the teachers will get ample time to
interact with the students and also upgrade their teaching.
Prof. Azis expressed satisfaction on the fundamental changes witnessed in the
campus for the last several months. He said that the research scholars of the
University have created a record by submitting 375 Ph.D. theses this year. He
said that the admissions were made smoothly this year which facilitated
peaceful teaching during the current academic session. He thanked all for
their cooperation in the great achievement.
The Academic Council has also re-designated the posts of Director, Assistant
Director and Project Officer of the Adult and Continuing Education Centre of
AMU as per the UGC directives. These posts shall now be re-designated to the
Professor, Reader and Lecturer respectively.
The meeting of the Academic Council was adjourned and now it is slated for
January 12 to discuss the remaining issues, the release added. (pervezbari@eth.net)
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