PCI asks Police to keep in abeyance arrest warrant against I&B secretary

NEW DELHI: The Press Council of India ( PCI) has asked Delhi Police to keep in "abeyance" the bailable arrest warrant against Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Sunil Arora for failing to appear before it following summons.

PCI Chairman Justice (retd) C K Prasad told PTI today that the decision to keep the warrant for execution by the police in abeyance was taken after seeking the opinion of its members on the issue.

As per the PCI's decision on April 11 after Arora failed to appear on that day, the Warrant of Arrest was to be issued through Commissioner of Police, Delhi/ACMM, Patiala House Court, Delhi for securing his appearance before the Council on April 22.

After the decision was taken, the PCI received a communication from the I and B Ministry that its Secretary was out of the country and he was ready to appear before it any day after April 18.

PCI officials said that following mutual consultations among the members on the communication it has been decided to keep the Warrant of Arrest in abeyance and the I and B Ministry and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi be apprised immediately. The next meeting of PCI is scheduled on April 22.

Following the decision to issue a warrant, the PCI and the I and B ministry were at loggerheads over the media body's powers.

Sources in the I and B Ministry maintained that PCI has "limited powers" and cannot decide everything unlike the judiciary, which is an independent institution recognised by the Constitution.

Prasad, however, said that the Council was of the "prima facie" view that it does have the powers to issue such a warrant.

At the same time, he said the Council is willing to listen to I and B Ministry's contention in this regard.

The unanimous decision to secure Arora's attendance before the Council at its next meeting was taken by its members at their meeting on April 11 under the Chairmanship of Prasad.

The PCI on March 17 had decided to institute a suo motu inquiry into the "continued apathy" of the I and B Ministry towards the activities of the Council particularly at its efforts to preserve the freedom of the press and its mandate under the Press Council Act and directed its Secretary to appear before it on April 11.