Madhya Pradesh High Court Denies Bail to Journalists Accused of Insulting SC Teacher as ‘Chindi Chor’
Court Finds Prima Facie Case Under SC/ST Act Against Accused for Humiliating Scheduled Caste Teacher
The Madhya Pradesh High Court recently refused anticipatory bail to two journalists accused of assaulting a Scheduled Caste woman teacher and labeling her as ‘chindi chor’ (petty thief) in a news report. Justice Gajendra Singh observed that the intention to humiliate the teacher was apparent from circumstances and publication, constituting a prima facie case under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The accused had reportedly questioned the teacher during a class examination about attendance categorization and were prevented from filming the event. After leaving the school premises, they allegedly assaulted the teacher on her way home, blackmailed her, and used casteist slurs. The accused claimed the case against them was false, arguing they were covering a story on illegal recovery of money from students.
The Court rejected anticipatory bail pleas, highlighting that the accused do not belong to SC or ST categories, while the teacher’s caste status falls within the Scheduled Caste category, making the case attract the SC/ST Act’s protection. The decision emphasized that the bar on anticipatory bail under Section 18 of the Act applies given the prima facie case.