Protests over Press Council revamp

The associations of the print media have expressed grave concern over the procedure followed by the Chairman of the Press Council, Justice C.K. Prasad, while reconstituting the 13th Press Council of India.

A joint meeting of representatives of working journalists, editors and owners of the media, held at the Indian Newspaper Society on Saturday, issued a joint statement criticising the move.

“The associations of the print media expressed grave concern over the procedure followed by the Chairman, Press Council, while reconstituting the 13th Press Council of India. It noted that the Chairman overlooked precedence and adopted a process to keep out certain media associations and candidates,” the statement said. The associations said this action of the Chairman had cast serious doubts over the autonomy and neutrality of the council, which is mandated to preserve and protect the freedom of the Press.

Limited members

“Further, the Chairman has called a meeting of the reconstituted Press Council with only eight members — five MPs and three official nominees, out of 28 members, leaving out the rest of the representatives of the print media organisations as their names are yet to be notified and the Press Council reconstitution is still under way,” the statement said.

The Delhi High Court has stayed the nomination process.

The associations have demanded that the proposed meeting of the truncated Press Council must not be held and be deferred till the full Council is reconstituted.

“The Government should intervene to restore the credibility and sanctity of the Press Council of India. This will go a long way in demonstrating the will of the Government to protect and preserve the freedom of the Press, vital to any democracy,” the statement said.

The joint statement was issued by the All India Newspaper Editors Conference, Indian Journalists Union, Indian Newspaper Society, Working News Cameramen Association, Hindi Samachar Patr Sammelan, National Union of Journalists (India), All India Small and Medium Newspapers Federation and Press Association.