Jail term for Indian journalists

By Sanjoy Majumder
BBC News, Delhi

The verdict has been criticised as an attack on the freedom of press

A court in the Indian capital Delhi has sentenced four journalists to four months in prison after they accused a former chief justice of corruption.

The court ruled that the allegations, which appeared in an India tabloid newspaper, Mid Day, constituted a contempt of court.

The journalists have stood by their story and say they will appeal against their sentences.

The verdict has been criticised as an attack on the freedom of press.

In its order, the Delhi High Court said the four Mid Day journalists, including its publisher, two editors and a cartoonist, had tarnished the image of the judiciary by publishing articles against a former chief justice of the Supreme Court.

Strongly criticised

By this, the court said, "they have attacked the very institution which, according to us, is nothing short of contempt".

The newspaper has published several articles critical of a ruling passed by the former Chief Justice, YK Sabharwal, ordering the demolition of scores of illegal shops and commercial buildings in Delhi.

The reports alleged that the order benefited Mr Sabharwal's sons and their business interests.

The former chief justice has denied the allegations.

Friday's ruling against the journalists has been strongly criticised by the Indian media which has described it as a threat to press freedom.

The Editors' Guild of India, a group of senior newspaper editors, has said it will meet soon to press for a change in India's contempt laws to protect journalists.