26 Oct 2021  |   07:02am IST

Those who attack Herald with defamatory personal remarks should be prepared to face the courts

Those who attack Herald with  defamatory personal remarks should be  prepared to face the courts

Today the corrupt practices by those writing either in mainstream media or self-run so-called serious publications are as much a part of the corrupt system as those in government and politics are.

Ever since Herald has openly decided to fight the battle for change, there are individuals who spread negativity and hate in social media, or self-styled journalists who happen to find space in national online portals or those who spew venom and falsehood in the name of journalism have been spreading calumny and falsehood, through personal defamatory attacks on the paper and senior leadership of Herald.

For over a century Herald has been a custodian of people’s trust, though from time to time those who have been once a part of the paper are freely and unlawfully making remarks which clearly fall under the purview of criminal defamation. The perpetrators also include supposed senior respectable members of society who have stooped to the level of making personal attacks on Herald and its journalists on Facebook.

Herald has already initiated criminal defamatory proceedings against these individuals, reporters, writers, editors as well as the publications – print and online – where such defamatory material has been published.

Herald charges that these individuals are doing this at the behest of those who are against the stand Herald has taken to bring about systematic change and continue to get away with criminal acts of defamation because their acts are never called out. They and the media that seeks to publish them, including respected national online media, will soon have to march to the Courts to face trial for their deeds.

Herald is not seeking any monetary compensation and damages but punishments for these criminal acts according the law of the land and is prepared to go to the highest court of the land to defend its principles and honour and of those who give direction and leadership to the people’s paper. These defamatory reporters/writers/columnists and Facebook posters, we pray, will soon hear from the Courts and will have to try defend what we state is indefensible.

Having a difference of opinion is totally acceptable but making below the belt reputational attacks will be dealt with the full might of available rights enshrined in the law which we have used.

IDhar UDHAR

Idhar Udhar