Shillong, June 5, 2014: Social Welfare Minister Deborah C Marak has today issued a legal notice to the editor of the Shillong Times (ST) for publishing a news item under the caption “GARO HILLS UNREST: POLITICO-MILITANT NEXUS” alleging her nexus with GNLA, which led to her victory in the last Assembly Election.
Her lawyer Sujit Dey speaking to this reporter said that his client Debora Marak has demanded Shillong Times to furnish the source of the said news in three days time from the date of receipt of the notice.
Lawyer Sujit Dey stated, “The statements made are clearly devoid of any basis, they are clearly defamatory; the allegations are highly motivated and a figment of imagination.”
“I have been given instructions from Mrs Marak to take appropriate legal action both civil and criminal against the local English daily in a competent Court of law for the defamation of the name and the reputation of my client and in that case, the newspaper will be liable for all costs and consequencies,” stated lawyer Sujit Dey.
When this reporter told Dey that media has all right to not reveal the source, Dey commented, “According to the guidelines of the Press Council of India any media house is not bound to reveal the sources but the individual from the paper did not act maturely; they should have also taken the version of Mrs Marak.”
“If the news paper is ready to reveal us the source we will charge the source but if fail then the former will have to bear the consequences,” Dey stated.(SP News)
