Meghalaya civil group embarks on ‘Crowdfunding Campaign’ for ST editor, publisher’ legal defence
SHILLONG | March 11, 2019:
The recent judgement of the Meghalaya High Court which held The Shillong Times Editor Patricia Mukhim and publisher Shobha Choudhury guilty of contempt of court has gathered flaks from several quarters.
On March 8, the duo was asked to pay Rs 2 lakh each as fine, an amount of which is supposed to be deposited to the registry for the welfare fund of the high court within a week, failing of which, the duo will get 6 months imprisonment and the paper banned.
Days after the judgement, a civil society group — Meghalaya People's Committee for Freedom of Expression and Free Press (MPCFOEFP) has started a 'Crowdfunding Campaign' to cover the legal defence of The Shillong Times Editor and Publisher.
"We started this campaign not because they (duo) can't afford this fight but because Free Press is a public good and we ought to join this fight," said MPCFOEFP.
The contempt proceedings were initiated against the duo on the basis of reports published in the paper on December 6, 2018, and December 10, 2018, under the headlines "High Court pursues retirement benefits to judges, family" and "When judges judge for themselves," respectively.
The two are now appealing the order in the Supreme Court – for which funds are being raised.
