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Created: 26 April 2018

NEW DELHI:  Prof.Bhim Singh, Sr. Advocate in the Supreme Court & Executive Chairman of the State Legal Aid Committee has expressed displeasure on the unmindful and thoughtless statement of a junior lawyer appearing in a Kathua case calling an elected Chief Minister as a ‘Jehadi Chief Minister’ which is, he described, a derogatory remark against an official holding a constitutional rank in the system. He said that he would not subscribe to the working and conduct of the Chief Minister in her dealings in many fields in the state. He disagrees with her utterances and the dealings to seek appropriate and lawful resolutions of the problems which are being faced in the state by the people. He said, however describing an elected Chief Minister as ‘Jehadi’ cannot be accepted even within the meaning and scope of the Bar Council of India which has not been extended to the lawyers of J&K ever since it was born in New Delhi.

Prof.Bhim Singh hoped that young lawyers whatever school they belong to use the legal/respectful/and acceptable language while dealing with the legal cases where they are meant for representing the legal interest of their clients and not the political philosophy they have inherited from any other school.

This is also unfortunate that the leading newspapers are broadcasting such statements with ulterior motives to spread hatred of the people against another section. Sr. Lawyer & jurist has also appealed to the press particularly the national press to be careful about using words and language which instigates rather provokes the sentiments of one community against another. Using the terms, ‘Jehadi Chief Minister’ or ‘Islamic Fascist communal agenda’ against an elected Chief Minister of J&K is also violation of rule of law which stands established by the Press Council of India, 1978. This is violation of the rule of decency for the press that, “Mehbooba Mufti is Jehadi—she gives legal immunity to caw slaughter and bovine smuggling. She refers to them (Gujjars and Bakerwals) as tribals, who are Muslims, and says Section 188 RPC (‘disobedience to order’) will not be involved against them… She is spearheading an Islamo-Fascit communal agenda wherein demographic change is a reality, where people of one religion are occupying land in Jammu province, which is a Hindu-dominated area.” These lines by a lawyer appearing for the poor accused person were expressed by their young lawyer and printed in the Indian Express on front page. Prof.Bhim Singh urged the Bar Council of India to intervene to ensure that freedom of press is not misused for promoting the sentiments or propaganda of a particular group of people who intend to put communal harmony on fire least understanding that J&K is a crown of India.