Press Council of India Enlists Actions Taken by the Council in the Year 2019-2020

The Press Council of India (PCI) is authorised to keep a check on various developments that have the tendency to affect the freedom of press. It disapproves attack/threat on journalists while performing their duties. The Council takes quick action in cases of assault of journalists, not only when complaints are filed, but also suo moto (on its own) actions, as per the provisions of the Press Council Act, 1978 and Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry), Regulations, 1979. The Council published a list of actions taken against the attacks on journalists in the year 2019-2020 on April 29, 2020.

Suo-Motu Actions

It took suo-motu actions of attacks on journalists in the year 2019-2020, in the following cases:

1. Alleged attack on Shri Amit Sharma, journalist, News-24 by the cops of Government Railway Police in Shamli (Uttar Pradesh).
2. Murder of Shri K. Satyanarayana, Journalist, ‘Andhra Jyothi’ newspaper in Andhra Pradesh.
3. Alleged attack, manhandling, abuse and forcible removal of Photo-Journalists of Hindustan Times during coverage of a protest near Rajghat, Delhi.
4. Manhandling of photojournalist, Shri Ashish Raje, Mumbai allegedly by cops; while photographing women protesting at Nagpada, Mumbai against Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens.

 Complaints

Also, the Council dealt with complaints of attacks on journalists in the year 2019-2020 in the cases filed by:

1. Shri Tarsem Chopra, Reporter, Electronic Media, Kotakpur; Chandigarh of alleged attacked by a senior official of Mandi Board during coverage of development work in the Kotakpur, Mandi, Chandigarh.
2. National Union of Journalists (India) about an attack on the media persons (JK 24X7 and NDTV) covering communal violence in North-East Delhi.
3. Mr Md.Mubashiruddin Khurram, Senior Correspondent, The Siasat Daily, Hyderabad against Hyderabad Police in dealing with protests and journalists.
4. Shri Ashok Mishra, Bureau of Chief, Dainik SamayJagat, Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) regarding alleged attack on him by anti-social elements.
5. Shri Manoj Shrivastava, Mahamantri, Kashi Patrakar Sangh, UP, against attack on media persons covering communal violence in North-East Delhi.

About the Press Council of India

The Press Council of India is a quasi-judicial statutory authority; set up under the Press Council Act, 1978, for the purpose of preserving the freedom of the Press; of maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India.