Reactions to Tehelka scandal: Tejpal's recusal isn't enough

While Tarun Tejpal has declared that he will be stepping down from the position of editor-in-chief of Tehelka for six months due to charges of sexual assault levelled by a reporter with the publication, many have already begun to question whether it is adequate action in a case of sexual harassment. Managing Editor of Tehelka Shoma Chaudhary in an email said Tejpal had rendered an “unconditional apology to the colleague involved”. [caption id=“attachment_1241651” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Tarun Tejpal. AFP[/caption] Tejpal also wrote a letter to Chaudhury in which he said, “A bad lapse of judgment, an awful misreading of the situation, have led to an unfortunate incident that rails against all we believe in and fight for. I have already unconditionally apologised for my misconduct to the concerned journalist, but I feel impelled to atone further.” He said that he was stepping down for six months as part of he “must do the penance that lacerates me”. However, many have already begun to question whether the action taken against Tejpal is inadequate. What has sparked further outrage is a statement by Chaudhary that the magazine won’t be instituting an inquiry into the matter and said it was “an internal problem”. Some like Javed Akhtar, who came to Tejpal’s defence, were also roundly chastised. And almost all on Twitter sought further action against Tejpal, with his name and that of the managing editor’s both trending on the micro-blogging site. Even within the journalistic fraternity, on and off Twitter, most backed stronger action against Tejpal.

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Some like CNN-IBN’s National Affairs Editor Bhupendra Chaubey were stinging in their criticism of the action taken against Tejpal so far and questioned why the organisation wasn’t taking further action against him or why a body like the National Commission for Women didn’t take action against him. However, practising Supreme Court lawyer Sanjay Hegde said that if the abuse faced by the woman was verbal then it was indeed an internal matter and a committee in Tehelka could decide the action against Tejpal. An internal committee within Tehelka was adequate to decide whether his recusing himself as editor in chief was adequate, Hegde said. “If there was any physical attack, then irrespective of whether the victim complains or not if there is evidence like video recordings, it can be enough for filing of a criminal complaint,” Hegde told CNN-IBN. The woman in her complaint had said that the assault had taken place in an hotel elevator in Goa and according to Hegde, a case could be registered in Goa. Despite the sea of outrage over the incident, Tejpal has maintained a stony silence and apart from Chaudhary’s statement claiming it to be an internal matter, Tehelka has said nothing else. Unfortunately, silence and obfuscation will not help.