Journalists' Organisations Protest Revamp Of Press Council Of India

Print media bodies have expressed concern over the procedure followed by the chairman of media watchdog Press Council of India (PCI) while reconstituting the 13th Press Council. Working journalists, editors and owners of media groups allege the PCI chairman adopted a process to keep certain media candidates away. The chairman, Justice CK Prasad called a meeting of the reconstituted Press Council with only eight members that include five lawmakers and three official nominees, leaving out the rest of the representatives from print media organisations as their names are yet to be notified and the Press Council panel reconstitution is still underway. The Delhi High Court has put a stay on the nomination process. A joint statement from the protesting organisations said, "The meeting demanded 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."