Parliament Question: Cases against Journalists and Human Right Activists

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4683 TO BE ANSWERED ON FRIDAY, THE 20TH MARCH, 2026 CASES AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND HUMAN RIGHT ACTIVISTS 4683. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL: MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE: ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI: DR. BACHHAV SHOBHA DINESH: Will the Minister of LAW AND JUSTICE be pleased to state: (a) the number of journalists, independent media persons, social activists and human rights defenders against whom cases have been registered since 2014 under laws relating to national security, unlawful activities, sedition, incitement to hatred or public order, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, year-wise and State-wise; (b) the number of such persons currently in custody, the duration of their detention and the number of persons granted bail, year-wise since 2014; (c) the number of such cases that have resulted in convictions, acquittals or discharge, year-wise since 2014; (d) whether the Government has conducted any review of the prolonged pendency of trials and low conviction rates, if any, in such cases; and (e) the safeguards in place to ensure that criminal provisions relating to security and public order are not invoked in a manner that has the effect of discouraging peaceful dissent and constitutionally protected protest? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF LAW AND JUSTICE; AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS (SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL) (a) to (e): ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore, State Governments and Union Territory Administrations are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crimes and for prosecution of the accused through their law enforcement agencies. Department of Justice does not maintain data with respect to police cases against journalists, media persons, social activists and human rights defenders etc. *****