Tehelka case: It was all Shoma’s decision, say staff

The decision to ask Tehelka founding editor Tarun Tejpal to give unconditional apology and step down from his post was a “unilateral” decision taken by the magazine’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, senior Tehelka staffers have told HT.

The decision to ask Tehelka founding editor Tarun Tejpal to give unconditional apology and step down from his post was a “unilateral” decision taken by the magazine’s managing editor Shoma Chaudhury, senior Tehelka staffers have told HT.

“It was not done. None of the senior editors were consulted before Shoma decided to get an unconditional apology from Tarun Tejpal. On a matter as grave as this she should have consulted at least the senior editors on how to handle the situation,” said one of Tehelka’s senior editors who requested anonymity.

Senior staffers at the magazine also said that though the decision to constitute an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) headed by feminist author Urvashi Butalia to inquire into the case was announced two days back, they are not aware of its constitution.

“We are not aware who are the other members in the committee. I am not aware of any colleague — male or female — who has been contacted so far to be part of it,” said a senior staffer who did not want to be named.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) had also written to Tehelka managing editor Shoma Chaudhury on Friday asking her to inform them about the composition of the committee. The NCW had given Chaudhury 24 hours to respond. “We are yet to get a response. We will take up the matter with her on Monday,” said NCW member Shamina Shafiq.