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Overview of the Press Council of India

The Press Council of India is a statutory body that aims to preserve press freedom and improve newspaper standards in India. It has 28 members including editors, owners, and representatives of Parliament and fields like education and law. The Council adjudicates complaints against the press, can censure or warn newspapers, and issues codes of conduct for journalists. It also advises the government on laws concerning the press and promotes balanced relationships within the media industry.

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131 views2 pages

Overview of the Press Council of India

The Press Council of India is a statutory body that aims to preserve press freedom and improve newspaper standards in India. It has 28 members including editors, owners, and representatives of Parliament and fields like education and law. The Council adjudicates complaints against the press, can censure or warn newspapers, and issues codes of conduct for journalists. It also advises the government on laws concerning the press and promotes balanced relationships within the media industry.

Uploaded by

Dinamani Singh
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Introduction

The Press Council of India is a statutory quasi-judicial autonomous authority re-


established in the year 1979 under an Act of Parliament, Press Council Act, 1978 with the
two fold objects of preserving the freedom of the press by maintaining and improving the
standards of newspapers and the news agencies in India. It was first set up in 1966 under the
Indian Press Council Act, 1965, on the recommendations of the first Press Commission with
the identical twin objects. The 1965 Act was, however, repealed in 1975 and the Press
Council was abolished during emergency. Thereafter, a new Act was enacted on the similar
lines as the Act of 1965 and the Press Council was re-established under it in the year 1979.

The Council is a body corporate having perpetual succession comprising of a


Chairman and 28 members. While the Chairman has, by convention, been a retired judge of
the Supreme Court of India who is nominated by a Committee consisting of a Chairman of
the Council of States (Rajya Sabha), Speaker of the House of People (Lok Sabha) and a
person elected amongst themselves by the 28 members of the Council. Of the twenty eight
(28) members, thirteen (13) represent the working journalists, of whom, six (6) are to be
editors of newspapers and remaining seven (7) are to be working journalists other than
editors. Six (6) members are from among persons who own or carry on the business of the
management of the newspapers, two (2) each representing the big, medium and small
newspapers. One (1) is from among persons who manage news agencies. It has five (5)
members as representatives of the two Houses of Parliament, three (3) nominated by the
Speaker of the Lok Sabha and two (2) nominated by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to
represent readers interest. It has three (3) members nominated from the University Grants
Commission, Bar Council of India and Sahitya Academy representing the fields of education,
law and literature respectively.

The objects of the Press Council of India as embodied in Section 13 of the Act are to
preserve the freedom of the Press and to maintain and improve the standards of newspapers
and news agencies in India. The Act also confers an advisory role on the Council in that it
can, either suo-motu or on a reference made to it by the Government under Section 13 (2) of
the Act, undertake studies and express its opinion in regard to any bill, legislation, law or
other matters concerning the Press and convey its opinion to the Government or the persons
concerned. Also, in the matters of public importance concerning its statutory responsibilities,
the Council may suomotu take cognizance and constitute a Special Committee to make an on-
the spot inquiry.

In furtherance of its objects defined under Section 13 of the Act, some of the
important functions which the Press Council is required to perform are, to help newspapers
and news agencies to maintain their independence; to build up a code of conduct for
newspapers, news agencies and journalists in accordance with high professional standards; to
ensure on the part of the newspapers, news agencies and journalists the maintenance of high
standards of public taste and foster a due sense of both the rights and responsibilities; to keep
under review any development likely to restrict the supply and dissemination of news of
public interest and importance; to promote a proper functional relationship among all classes
of persons engaged in the production or publication of newspapers or in news agencies; and
to concern itself with development such as concentration of or other aspects of ownership of
newspapers and news agencies which may affect the freedom of the press.

The raison d’etre of this body is rooted in the concept that in a democratic society, the
Press needs to be simultaneously free and responsible. Thus, it acts in a higher domain of
ethical values and standards. In furtherance to this aspect, it has been framing up code of
conduct for newspapers, news agencies and the journalists in conforming with high moral and
professional standards. Its purpose is not only to act as a watch dog on the press but also to
enthuse a new perspective into journalistic fraternity. The Council constantly assays to keep
the press devoid of unethical writings 2 and also the Council expends its moral authority to
instil ethics into the journalistic sodality which is always higher plane than law.

The Council discharges its functions primarily through adjudications on complaint


cases received by it, either against the Press for violation of journalistic ethics or by the Press
for interference with its freedom. Where the Council is satisfied, after inquiry, that a
newspaper or a news agency has offended against the standards of journalistic ethics or
public taste or that an editor or working journalist has committed any professional
misconduct, the Council may warn, admonish or censure them or disapprove of their conduct.
The Council is also empowered to make such observations as it may think fit in respect of the
conduct of any authority, including Government, for interfering with the freedom of the press
so prescribed under Section (4). The decisions of the Council are final and cannot be
questioned in any court of law.

The Council being a body set up under an Act of Parliament gets a substantial part of
its fund by way of grants-in-aid from the Central Government, after due appropriation by the
Parliament, as also it has its own funds by way of the fee collected by from newspapers on a
graded structure and other receipts.

Common questions

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The Press Council of India has an advisory role, where it can undertake studies and express its opinion either suo-motu or upon a reference from the Government concerning any bill, legislation, or law affecting the press. It can convey its opinions to the Government or concerned individuals .

The Press Council of India's decisions are final and cannot be challenged in any court of law, highlighting its substantial autonomy and authority in adjudicating matters related to press conduct and its freedom from external judicial review .

The Press Council of India promotes ethical standards by framing a code of conduct for newspapers, news agencies, and journalists that aligns with high moral and professional standards. It serves both as a watchdog to prevent unethical journalistic practices and as a moral authority to instill ethics higher than law into the profession. The Council adjudicates complaints concerning journalistic ethics and issues warnings, admonitions, or censures against violators .

The Press Council of India addresses complaints concerning interference with press freedom by investigating and, if justified, making pertinent observations against any authority, including the government, for such interference as stipulated under Section 4. It can warn, admonish, or censure and disapprove conduct violating press freedom or ethics .

The Press Council of India is funded primarily through grants-in-aid from the Central Government, appropriated by Parliament. It also generates funds from fees collected from newspapers according to a graded structure and other receipts .

The Press Council of India concerns itself with developments like ownership concentration of newspapers and news agencies, which could threaten press freedom. It monitors and promotes proper functional relationships to avoid any monopolistic practices that might limit the diversity and independence of press voices .

The Press Council of India supports the independence of newspapers and news agencies by maintaining a review of developments that might restrict news supply, fostering a functional relationship among those engaged in news production, and addressing ownership concentration issues that may affect press freedom .

The composition of the Press Council of India reflects its dual objectives through a balanced representation of journalists, editors, newspaper managers, lawmakers, and academics. This structure ensures that the Council maintains press standards and freedom by integrating perspectives from journalism, law, literature, and education, while also representing readers and ensuring varied viewpoints for comprehensive governance .

The Press Council of India consists of a Chairman and 28 members. The Chairman is traditionally a retired Supreme Court judge. Thirteen members represent working journalists, including six editors. Six members represent newspaper management, two from each category of big, medium, and small newspapers. One member represents news agency management. There are five members from Parliament, three from the Lok Sabha and two from the Rajya Sabha. Three members are nominated from the University Grants Commission, Bar Council of India, and Sahitya Akademi, representing education, law, and literature .

The primary objectives of the Press Council of India as re-established under the Press Council Act, 1978, are to preserve the freedom of the press and to maintain and improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in India .

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