Supreme Court urged to show courage: Immediate bail demanded for journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh

By A Representative

The Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has called on the Supreme Court to demonstrate courage and uphold the principle that "bail is the rule, jail is the exception" by granting immediate bail to Jharkhand-based journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh. Singh has been incarcerated for over two and a half years in connection with alleged links to top Maoist leaders, a case that has drawn widespread criticism for its apparent misuse of stringent laws to silence dissent.

On January 27, the Supreme Court rejected Singh's bail application, further prolonging his detention despite the absence of a trial. Singh, a freelance journalist known for his ground reporting on issues such as extrajudicial killings, human rights violations, corporate exploitation, and environmental destruction in Jharkhand, was arrested in 2022. Since then, he has been implicated in approximately five cases, ensuring his prolonged incarceration without trial. In a concerning development, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) raided his residence on May 2, 2023, in connection with another alleged Maoist conspiracy case, despite Singh already being in pretrial detention.

The Supreme Court's decision has sparked outrage among civil society groups, journalists, and human rights activists. CASR, a coalition of over 40 progressive and democratic organizations, has condemned the denial of bail as a violation of Singh's fundamental rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The coalition has also criticized the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)-led state government for opposing Singh's bail application, accusing it of hypocrisy given its claims of protecting tribal rights while using draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to suppress dissent.

In a statement, CASR highlighted the Supreme Court's own ruling in Jalaluddin Khan vs. Union of India (2023), where a bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih emphasized that "bail is the rule, and jail is the exception," even in cases under special statutes like the UAPA. The bench had cautioned courts against denying bail in deserving cases, warning that such actions would violate constitutional rights. CASR has accused the Supreme Court of failing to uphold this principle in Singh's case, describing the denial of bail as an act of "cowardice."

Rupesh Kumar Singh's reporting has consistently exposed the nexus between corporate interests and the state, particularly in Jharkhand. Just two days before his arrest, he published a report on the dumping of industrial waste on tribal agricultural land in Giridih District, which has had catastrophic effects on the health of local communities. His arrest and subsequent prosecution have been widely viewed as an attempt to stifle his investigative journalism and intimidate others from speaking truth to power.

CASR has demanded the immediate release of Singh and the scrapping of all "bogus" cases against him. The coalition has also called on media houses, progressive organizations, and individuals to rally behind Singh and raise their voices against his unjust imprisonment. The statement further criticized the JMM-led Jharkhand government for its complicity in the repression of democratic voices, accusing it of aligning with the same corporate and fascist forces it claims to oppose.

The case of Rupesh Kumar Singh underscores the growing threats to press freedom and democratic dissent in India. As corporate exploitation and state repression intensify, the role of journalists like Singh in exposing injustices becomes ever more critical. CASR's call for his release is not just a demand for justice for one individual but a broader appeal to safeguard the democratic space and the rights of all marginalized communities.

Comments

Countrywide protest by gig workers puts spotlight on algorithmic exploitation

By A Representative A nationwide protest led largely by women gig and platform workers was held across several states on February 3, with the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) claiming the mobilisation as a success and a strong assertion of workers’ rights against what it described as widespread exploitation by digital platform companies. Demonstrations took place in Delhi, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other states, covering major cities including New Delhi, Jaipur, Bengaluru and Mumbai, along with multiple districts across the country.

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Budget 2026 focuses on pharma and medical tourism, overlooks public health needs: JSAI

By A Representative Jan Swasthya Abhiyan India (JSAI) has criticised the Union Budget 2026, stating that it overlooks core public health needs while prioritising the pharmaceutical industry, private healthcare, medical tourism, public-private partnerships, and exports related to AYUSH systems. In a press note issued from New Delhi, the public health network said that primary healthcare services and public health infrastructure continue to remain underfunded despite repeated policy assurances.

'Gandhi Talks': Cinema that dares to be quiet, where music, image and silence speak

By Vikas Meshram In today’s digital age, where reels and short videos dominate attention spans, watching a silent film for over two hours feels almost like an act of resistance. Directed by Kishor Pandurang Belekar, “Gandhi Talks” is a bold cinematic experiment that turns silence into language and wordlessness into a powerful storytelling device. The film is not mere entertainment; it is an experience that pushes the viewer inward, compelling reflection on life, values, and society.

Penpa Tsering’s leadership and record under scrutiny amidst Tibetan exile elections

By Tseten Lhundup* Within the Tibetan exile community, Penpa Tsering is often described as having risen through grassroots engagement. Born in 1967, he comes from an ordinary Tibetan family, pursued higher education at Delhi University in India, and went on to serve as Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile from 2008 to 2016. In 2021, he was elected Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), becoming the second democratically elected political leader of the administration after Lobsang Sangay.

When compassion turns lethal: Euthanasia and the fear of becoming a burden

By Deepika A 55-year-old acquaintance passed away recently after a long battle with cancer. Why so many people are dying relatively young is a question being raised in several forums, and that debate is best reserved for another day. This individual was kept on a ventilator for nearly five months, after which the doctors and the family finally decided to let go. The cost of keeping a person on life support for such extended periods is enormous. Yet families continue to spend vast sums even when the chances of survival are minimal. Life, we are told, is precious, and nature itself strives to protect and sustain it.

Report exposes human rights gaps in India's $36 billion garment export industry

By Jag Jivan A new report sheds light on the urgent human rights challenges within India’s vast textile and garment industry, as global regulations increasingly demand corporate accountability in supply chains. Titled “Beneath the Seams,” the study reveals that despite the sector employing over 45 million people, systemic issues of poverty wages, unfair purchasing practices, and the exclusion of workers from decision-making persist, leaving millions vulnerable.

When resistance became administrative: How I learned to stop romanticising the labour movement

By Rohit Chauhan* On my first day at a labour rights NGO, I was given a monthly sales target: sixty memberships. Not sixty workers to organise, not sixty conversations about exploitation, not sixty political discussions. Sixty conversions. I remember staring at the whiteboard, wondering whether I had mistakenly walked into a multi-level marketing office instead of a trade union. The language was corporate, the urgency managerial, and the tone unmistakably transactional. It was my formal introduction to a strange truth I would slowly learn: in contemporary India, even rebellion runs on performance metrics.

Silencing the university: How fear is replacing debate in academic India

By Sunil Kyumar* “Republic Day is a powerful symbol of our freedom, Constitution, and democratic values. This festival gives us renewed energy and inspiration to move forward together with the resolve of nation-building”, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 26, 2026. On this occasion, the Prime Minister also shared a Sanskrit subhashita— “Paratantryābhibhūtasya deśasyābhyudayaḥ kutaḥ. Ataḥ svātantryamāptavyaṁ aikyaṁ svātantryasādhanam.”

Search This Blog