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Following allegations of sexual assault by a junior woman colleague,founder and editor-in-chief of Tehelka magazine Tarun Tejpal has been stripped off his recently acquired membership of the Prasar Bharati Board.
Tejpal was selected as a member of the Prasar Bharati Board on Tuesday by a committee headed by Vice-President Hamid Ansari. However,sources said,the Information and Broadcasting Ministry was asked to cancel it once the incident came to light.
On Wednesday,Tejpal said he was stepping down as editor for six months to do the penance that lacerates him. This followed the woman journalists complain to Shoma Chaudhury,managing editor of Tehelka,accusing Tejpal of sexually assaulting her on two occasions during the Think fest event organised by the magazine in Goa earlier this month.
In a strong statement condemning the incident,Editors Guild of India president N Ravi said the allegations are on the face of it shocking and shameful.
Such incidents anywhere are condemnable in the strongest terms but the Guild is particularly saddened that they should engulf a media organisation, he added. Emphasising the conduct that has been alleged would constitute grave sexual assault at the very least taking advantage of the authority and power of the perpetrator within the media organisation,the statement said there should not be any attempt to cover up or play down the incident. It also said the self-proclaimed atonement and recusal for a period were not remedies for what the allegations show to be outright criminality.
The Delhi Union of Journalists said Tejpals statement admitting a lapse of judgement and his self-declared sabbatical from editorship both confirm the allegation . No assaulter should be let off with an admission of guilt,an apology and so-called penance. This would amount to making a mockery of the law, a statement issued by the DUJ said.
Markandey Katju,chairman of the Press Council of India,however,refused to comment on the incident. I dont want to talk about it. Im sorry, he said.
The National Commission for Women has taken suo motu cognizance and has written to Katju requesting him to intervene and examine the matter,according to its Public Relations Officer.
The Indian Womens Press Corps demanded that media organisations should take corrective measures,including setting up pro-active internal complaints committees for the effective enforcement of the Visakha Guidelines.
It is a very very shocking incident that has taken place. All the material is available in the public domain. It is all the more shocking that Tarun Tejpal,who is a well-reputed journalist and is known for his independent thinking,should indulge in such a grave sexual assault. He has said that he wants to atone for it. But that atonement can only be in the legal framework of the country and not self determined recusing, Brinda Karat,CPM politburo member said.
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari refused to comment on the allegations against Tejpal. Its a very sensitive issue. After scrutinising every details regarding the Tarun Tejpal issue,if there is any reaction to be given in that issue then we will definitely give our reaction, Tewari told reporters at IFFI venue in Goa. Tewari has in the past represented Tehelka in the Jain Commission.
