Terming the Vasundhara Raje government’s controversial Criminal Laws Ordinance as "black law", Rajasthan Patrika on Wednesday decided to boycott the chief minister until she revokes it.
The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, tabled for approval of the state assembly last month, bars courts from taking up cases against public servants, including legislators, ministers and officials, without its permission. Till then, the media too cannot name the public servant.
In a scathing editorial, Gulab Kothari, editor-in-chief of Rajasthan Patrika, said: “Accepting the advice of our editorial board, the board of directors have decided that till the chief minister Vasundhara Raje doesn’t take back this black law, Rajasthan Patrika will not publish her and the related news. This a question of democracy, of expression, of the people’s opinion of pride.”
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The ordinance, which provides 180 days immunity to the officers, reads: "No magistrate shall order an investigation nor will any investigation be conducted against a person, who is or was a judge or a magistrate or a public servant."
On Wednesday, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was among firsts who appreciated the step taken by the newspaper, tweeting: “V rare journalism. Needs immense courage in today’s times.”
Congress leader Sachin Pilot moved the high court against the ordinance. The party said it was illegal and unconstitutional and further demanded a full withdrawal of the ordinance.
