Delhi HC issues notice to top editorial staff of UNI

New Delhi : Taking strong cognizance of the torture and humiliation of a dalit employee of United News of India (UNI), a prestigious news agency of the country, the Delhi High court yesterday issued notice to two high profile scribes of UNI including Joint Editor Neeraj Bajpayee, Journalist Ashok Upadhyay and an another employee of the agency Mohan Lal Joshi.

While hearing the case Delhi high court hon’bleJustice Pratibha Rani issued the notices directing the trio to file a reply by July 15, 2016 informed the counsel Jitendra kumar Jha and Shahid Iqbal. The counsels further said that after taking cognizance of non filing of any appeal by the government lawyer against acquittal of the accused by a lower court, judge asked the government lawyer about it and he admitted that no writ was filed against the decision of the lower court and he accepted the notice .

Earlier UNI Joint Editor Mr Bajpayee,journalist Mr Upadhyay and an another employee of UNI Mr Joshi were sent to tihar jail by lower court in 2013 in connection with the SC/ST case lodged at Parliament Street police station with FIR No. 61/2013. The trio who have unleashed a reign of terror in the organisation were put behind the bars for one week from 12/12/2013 to 18/12/2013.

As per the case these three acused had humiliated and had threatened the victim, (petitioner )Virender Verma, a Dalit employee of UNI in the office premises on 14/03/2013. The incident took place within the premises of the UNI located on 9, Rafi Marg, New Delhi situated within 200 meters of the Indian Parliament. The case was lodged Under Sec 3 of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 in which the accused persons were acquitted by the lower court.