Journalists protest against Criminal ordinance in Jaipur

Journalists held a protest march in Jaipur, Rajasthan on Tuesday against the Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance that was tabled in the state assembly on Monday.

Holding black placards printed with "Kala Kanoon"(black law), protesting journalists said they will continue their march towards the state Assembly.

Journalists urged the BJP government to retract the proposal, saying the law is completely unjustified and muzzles the press.

"I will call this dictatorship if a journalist is awarded two years imprisonment for investigating and writing anything against corrupt bureaucrats. The government will have to bow down and remove its proposed 'black law'," Journalist Neeraj said.

"The government cannot seize our constitutional rights to hide its own mistakes," he added.

The Rajasthan Government, in the current legislative session, passed an ordinance that protects both serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on-duty action without prior sanction.

The ordinance also sought to bar the media from reporting on accusations against judges and bureaucrats till the sanction to proceed with the probe is obtained.

The ordinance is an amendment to the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.