By Nava Thakuria*
Guwahati: The Press Council of India, a vital statutory and quasi-judicial entity dedicated to protecting press freedom, has been inactive for almost five months since the term of the 14th Press Council expired on October 5, 2024.
In light of this situation, the Press Club of Assam (PCA) has voiced its concerns and issued a statement urging the establishment of the 15th Press Council of India. Furthermore, the PCA called for the enhancement of the Press Council’s authority by extending its oversight to include news channels and digital platforms, thereby redefining it as the Media Council of India.
The Press Council of India, which typically operates on a three-year term, got its continuity disrupted last year, when the chairperson failed to establish a new council on time.
“As the PCI discharges its functions primarily through adjudications on complaints received against a particular newspaper/news agency or an editor/working journalist alleging professional misconduct deteriorating the standard of journalistic behaviours, it needs to be in an alert mode always,” said PCA president Kailash Sarma. PCA general secretary Hiren Ch Kalita pointed out that the PCI is also empowered to make observations if the conduct of any authority including the government is found interfering with the guaranteed freedom of the press.
Various media organizations in India have expressed their astonishment at the delay in forming a new council, claiming that the Press Council of India (PCI) has become largely ineffective in recent months. The Mumbai Press Club (MPC) recently issued a statement suggesting that the underlying issue stems from efforts to marginalize two significant and active journalist organizations, specifically the MPC and the Editors Guild of India, from their roles in representation. In light of this situation, the MPC has reached out to Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, urging him to intervene and provide necessary guidance to the PCI chairperson.
It may be mentioned that the Press Council of India is an independent entity that was first established in 1966 under the Press Council Act of 1965. It was reconstituted in 1979 following the Press Council Act of 1978, with the main aim of safeguarding press freedom and enhancing the quality of newspapers and news agencies across the country. Today, India boasts nearly 100,000 publications, as recognized by the Registrar of Newspapers for India, spanning a variety of frequencies and languages, including English. As the world’s largest democracy, with a population exceeding a billion, India also hosts around 400 satellite news channels, in addition to countless digital platforms, WhatsApp channels, and other online news sources.
The PCI is led by a chairman, typically a retired Supreme Court judge, and consists of 28 members. Among these, 13 are representatives of professional journalists, which includes 6 editors from various newspapers and 7 working journalists. Additionally, the council includes 6 members from newspaper management, with representation from large, medium, and small newspapers, as well as 1 member from news agencies. The Indian Parliament contributes 5 members, while 3 individuals are nominated by the University Grants Commission, the Bar Council of India, and the Sahitya Academy, each representing the domains of education, law, and literature.
*Senior journalist and working president of the Press Club of Assam
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