By Sagar Suraj

MOTIHARI:  In a stark reminder of media accountability, East Champaran District Magistrate Saurabh Jorwal has decisively countered a baseless Zee News digital report accusing him of enabling the sale of land tied to the defunct Chakia Sugar Factory.

 The unverified story, swiftly retracted after administrative pushback, underscores the perils of sensationalism masquerading as journalism.

District officials dismissed the Zee News piece—published on the platform founded by media mogul Subhash Chandra—as "fabricated and malicious.

" It is utter misuse of freedom of speech
as without quoting DM or verifying facts, the story was carried.

 "This was a deliberate attempt to tarnish the DM's reputation and manipulate public perception," an anonymous official told.

DM Jorwal's prompt clarification via the official Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) whatupp group dismantled the claims.

 "No official can order land sales or purchases. The administration only facilitates regulatory compliance and court directives," he stated.

 Officials confirmed the Chakia factory land registry adhered strictly to judicial orders, with no administrative overreach.

Zee News deleted the report following the rebuttal, but the reporter allegedly peddled similar versions elsewhere. Allegely to declare false narative true to appease his false ego, the official said.

This isn't isolated. The reporter previously targeted a bilingual newspaper journalist based in Motihari.

 The journalists, in his one of the report had questioned Mahatma Gandhi Central University's Vice-Chancellor appointment. 

The same reporter in the zee news digital portal falsely claimed that a defamation notice would be issued against  the said journalists for questioning VC' appointment revealing his illegal proximities with VC.

 University sources however, denied any such action, exposing another unverifiable narrative by the same reporter on the same platform.

The District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) Gyaneshwar Prakash  indicated potential legal steps against the zee news reporter and platform for disseminating "biased, unverified information."

 "We're evaluating action under Press Council of India guidelines," the DPRO said.

 DM Jorwal's firm stance exemplifies administrative transparency amid Bihar's complex land disputes, particularly around shuttered sugar mills like Chakia and Motihari. 

As digital media proliferates, this episode reignites debates on ethical reporting versus clickbait. 

Jorwal's response not only vindicates his office but spotlights the need for fact-checked journalism. 

In an era of yellow journalism, upright officers like him safeguard public trust.

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(Writer is senior correspondent of The Hindustan Times and also general secratary of Bharti Shramjivi patrakar sangh, Bihar)

रजौन थाना क्षेत्र के एक गांव में शनिवार की देर रात रिश्ते में भतीजा ने गर्भवती चाची के साथ कथित रूप से दुष्कर्म  की घटना को अंजाम दिया. इस मामले को लेकर रविवार को पीड़िता ने रजौन थाना में पहुंचकर शिकायत की है और लिखित आवेदन भी दिया है. घटना के बाद से आरोपी गांव से फरार बताया जा रहा है. वहीं, इस मामले को लेकर रजौन थानाध्यक्ष मनोज कुमार सिंह ने बताया कि दुष्कर्म की घटना को लेकर एक आवेदन मिला है. मामले की जांच की जा रही है.

घर पर कोई नहीं था- पीड़िता

थाने में दिए गए आवेदन में पीड़िता ने बताया है कि शनिवार की देर रात उसका पति घर पर नहीं था, पति एक तिलकोत्सव में नवादा गया हुआ था. इस दौरान रिश्ते के भतीजा अचानक उसके घर में घुस गया और मारपीट करते हुए उसके साथ दुष्कर्म की घटना को अंजाम देने लगा. इस बीच उसका पति घर पहुंच गया. इसके बाद उसके पति ने विरोध किया तो आरोपी ने मारपीट करने लगा और पति को घायल कर दिया. वहीं, शोरगुल करने पर मौके पर काफी संख्या में ग्रामीण भी जुट गए. ग्रामीणों से भी आरोपी मारपीट पर उतारू हो गया.

पुलिस मामले की जांच में जुटी

ग्रामीणों का कहना है कि आरोपी अपराधी प्रवृत्ति का व्यक्ति है. पूर्व में भी कई बार उसे समझाया जा चुका है. वहीं, मिली जानकारी के अनुसार पीड़िता को एक पुत्र और दो पुत्री है. पीड़िता अभी गर्भवती भी है. इस मामले को लेकर रजौन थानाध्यक्ष मनोज कुमार सिंह ने बताया कि इस मामले की जांच के लिए अवर निरीक्षक नीतू प्रिया को घटनास्थल पर भेजा गया था. पीड़िता को मेडिकल जांच कराने के लिए बांका भेजा गया है. पीड़िता के बयान पर मामला दर्ज करते हुए आगे की कानूनी कार्रवाई की जा रही है. जल्द आरोपी को पुलिस गिरफ्तार कर लेगी.

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SAGAR SURAJ

MOTIHARI: High court Patna directed state government to take disciplinary action against Sikrahana Sub-Divisional officer Gyan Prakash for his deliberate decision of cancelling a licence of fair price(PDS) dealer Sikander Ram, son of Ramdeo Ram, village Athmuhan under Bankatwa Block in 2020.

Hearing a civil writ petition, High court directed Chief Secratry, state government of Bihar to innitiate action against Sikrahana sub-divisional officer for ‘irresponsible manner’ in which latter passed an order of cancelling a license of Public distribution system. The court also directed the government to issue specific guidelines for proper exercise of power by the authorities so as to minimize the litigation in high court that is already over burdened with dockets.

While quashing the order dated April 16, 2020, Justice Chakaradhari Sharan Singh took strong exception against SDO’s modus- operadi in exercising his power- observing that in cancelling the fair price shop ‘there is irresistible’ conclusion that the authorities has acted in haste, court observed.

“To add to the injuries, SDO issued show cause on April, 2020, this court would also take notice of the fact that on the same day i,e April 16,2020 the order cancelling the petitioner’s license has also been issued”, court observed.

The court holds that the order of the Sub divisional officer dated April 16, 2020 cancelling the license is clearly unsustainable as being violative of the principal of natural justice. The order is not in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Statute. SDO while asking the petitioner to submit his response to show-cause notice on the date of issuance of notice itself coupled with passing of the order on the same date in utter haste, in court opinion it is wholly arbitrary and unreasonable, the court found.

Detailing the case, petitioner’s advocate Vikash Kumar Pankaj said that SDO lodged a case against the fair price shop owner and sent him to jail. His order of cancelling his license was challenged before court and finally court quashed SDO order observing that it was taken in utter haste without going through proper procedures. “ SDO’s unreasonable decision landed my clients in jail”, he added.

To take version calls made on the official contact number of Sikrahana SDO Gyan Prakash were left unattended. Later on SDO called back with his version that after going through the court order they will move to the revision bench as Sikander Ram himself had admitted the all allegations of defalcation leveled against him.