Press Council of India now says it backs media freedom

NEW DELHI: After backing media curbs in J&K in a plea in the Supreme Court, the Press Council of India has now said it does not support any restriction on the media and asked members for views on the subject.

PCI secretary Anupama Bhatnagar wrote to council members, stating that it stood for freedom of the press and did not approve of restrictions on the media. The letter avoided references to national security and self-regulation, used in its plea. The court is set to hear journalist Anuradha Bhasin’s petition for removal of media restrictions on Wednesday.

The letter also said PCI will file a detailed reply after a subcommittee report. PCI’s change in stand came after journalist organisations condemned its stand.


The Editors Guild in a statement on Tuesday said it expected PCI chairman CK Prasad to rescind his unilateral decision to defend in SC the unrelenting restrictions placed on media in J&K. The guild said it was “gravely concerned” that the media watchdog failed to speak up for press freedom and perversely argued in favour of a clampdown.