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PCI flays Chavan over assault on journalists
Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Monday flayed the Prithviraj Chavan Government for not seriously taking up the issue of repeated assaults on mediapersons in the State and threatened to initiate criminal proceedings against those attacking journalists. He also sought to know the steps taken by the State Government to ensure protection to journalists.
In a letter sent to Chief Minister Chavan, Justice Katju cited the day-light murder of journalist J Dey, attack on Yogesh Kute by a builder two years back for exposing his unlawful activities and group of criminals assaulting TV reporter Ganesh Solanki and said that some protection must be given to mediapersons. “But it seems your Government is not serious about this,” he said.
Pointing out that protests and dharnas were held by organisations of journalists against the problems faced by them, Justice Katju said, “Your Government has promised to act severely and punish the persons involved in these assaults on journalists, but nothing seems to have been done seriously.”
He said freedom of the media was a Fundamental Right and the Press Council would not tolerate its violation. It was the duty of the council to protect journalists from physical attacks while discharging their duties, he said and added that the council would not take lightly any incident in which mediapersons covering protests and demonstrations are injured during administrative action.
The Press Council would file criminal proceedings against the police and administrative personnel involved, he threatened.
Taking exception to the report of a State Government panel headed by Narayan Rane, which allegedly said there was no need for any special protection to be provided to journalists, Justice Katju said the recommendation was unacceptable and sought a copy of the report.
“You are, therefore, requested to inform me what steps your Government has taken for protection of journalists in the State of Maharashtra and what steps you propose to take,” he wanted to know.
He lauded courageous journalists of Maharashtra for exposing several shocking cases of inhumanity like the Jalgaon sex scandal, the Kothewadi incident and the Khairlanji atrocities against Dalits, incidents which would have otherwise been suppressed.
Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Monday flayed the Prithviraj Chavan Government for not seriously taking up the issue of repeated assaults on mediapersons in the State and threatened to initiate criminal proceedings against those attacking journalists. He also sought to know the steps taken by the State Government to ensure protection to journalists.
In a letter sent to Chief Minister Chavan, Justice Katju cited the day-light murder of journalist J Dey, attack on Yogesh Kute by a builder two years back for exposing his unlawful activities and group of criminals assaulting TV reporter Ganesh Solanki and said that some protection must be given to mediapersons. “But it seems your Government is not serious about this,” he said.
Pointing out that protests and dharnas were held by organisations of journalists against the problems faced by them, Justice Katju said, “Your Government has promised to act severely and punish the persons involved in these assaults on journalists, but nothing seems to have been done seriously.”
He said freedom of the media was a Fundamental Right and the Press Council would not tolerate its violation. It was the duty of the council to protect journalists from physical attacks while discharging their duties, he said and added that the council would not take lightly any incident in which mediapersons covering protests and demonstrations are injured during administrative action.
The Press Council would file criminal proceedings against the police and administrative personnel involved, he threatened.
Taking exception to the report of a State Government panel headed by Narayan Rane, which allegedly said there was no need for any special protection to be provided to journalists, Justice Katju said the recommendation was unacceptable and sought a copy of the report.
“You are, therefore, requested to inform me what steps your Government has taken for protection of journalists in the State of Maharashtra and what steps you propose to take,” he wanted to know.
He lauded courageous journalists of Maharashtra for exposing several shocking cases of inhumanity like the Jalgaon sex scandal, the Kothewadi incident and the Khairlanji atrocities against Dalits, incidents which would have otherwise been suppressed.
