Supreme Court notice to Centre on Press Council of India's petition

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has sought the Centre's stand on a plea by the Press Council of India ( PCI) against an Allahabad High Court order restraining media from reporting on movement of troops.

A bench of justices H L Dattu and C K Prasad issued notice to the Union government, seeking its reply.

The high court had directed various Central and state government authorities on April 10 "to ensure that there is no reporting/release of any news item by the print or electronic media on the movement of troops."

The petition filed by the office of PCI Chairman and former apex court judge Markandeya Katju, has submitted that the high court's order was in violation of the fundamental right under Article 19(1) (a) of the Constitution, granted to the media and every citizen of the country.

The high court's order had come on a PIL filed by a social activist relating to a report in The Indian Express on April 4. The report pertained to the purported movements of some Army troops towards New Delhi.