The judicial and press are the two pillars of democracy: Justice Madan B. Lokur

Justice Madan B. Lokur is committed to awarding the Unified Award on April 19, 2025 at NAI Duniya Media organized by the Nai Duniya Foundation in IIC, New Delhi.

“The freedom of the press and the independence of the judiciary have been under attack,” Madan B. Lokur said on Saturday (April 19, 2025).

Justice Lokur delivered a keynote speech in the media of the 2025 NAI Duniya Foundation’s Solidarity Award, saying that the judiciary and the media are “two pillars of our democracy.”

“The judiciary felt another attack, which was ruled by Kesavananda Bharati [on the basic structure doctrine of the Indian Constitution]. But shortly after that, we encountered an emergency in 1975 and the media suffered severe attacks. The judiciary also faces rigorous testing. In the emergency, both the judiciary and the press rebounded, and some landmark judgments have been made thereafter. ” Judge Lokur said.

“Today, there are attacks on the independence of the press and the independence of the judiciary. The attacks on the independence of the press and the judiciary are different, but the attacks continue.”

Justice Lokur pointed out that many people, including journalists, said it was necessary to ask why they were not released on bail. “This is because the judiciary is afraid to bail these people, even if there is no evidence against them? These are some of the questions we need to ask,” he said.

Justice Lokur presents Nayi Duniya Foundation Hindu. Ms. Haidar received the Kuldip Nayar Media Unity Award from Justice Lokur, and the late Kuldip Nayar’s granddaughter Mandira Nayar received “contribution to British journalism”.

“I want to thank the platform I have, this Hindu newspaper. It’s a vivid example of a newspaper, and diversity is an article of faith,” Ms. Heidal said after receiving the award.

Other winners include senior journalists Arun Shourie and Mrinal Pande; founding editor electric wire Siddharth Varadarajan; film producer Anubhav Sinha; radio reporter Preeti Choudhry; senior journalists Om Thanvi and Navin Suri; theater Luminary Mk Raina; Indian Love Project, a social media initiative against “intoler”.

The Nayi Duniya Foundation Chairman Shahid Siddiqui, former chief election commissioner and award jury director Sy Quraishi presided over the occasion.