Chennai: Journalists and members of the civil society here on Tuesday lambasted the Press Council of India for its move to intervene in a case in the Supreme Court over media restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir.
Calling the media watchdog’s intervention in the case “undemocratic and unconstitutional,” the members demanded that the PCI withdraw its move and urge the government to restore communications to media offices and facilitate free movement of mediapersons.
“It is disgraceful that the Chairperson of PCI has endorsed the high-handed and unconstitutional steps taken by the government without even subjecting his actions to a perfunctory discussion in the council,” members of several collectives said in a joint press statement issued during a press conference held here.
“The move is undemocratic and unconstitutional,” they said, and urged the PCI Chairman to withdraw the affidavit submitted in the apex court. Members of Tamil Nadu Union of Journalists, Indian Journalists Union, Alliance for Media Freedom, TN Women’s Coordination Committee among others took part in the press conference.
Calling the PCI’s move “shocking”, Alliance for Media Freedom President N Ram said, “It is shocking that PCI, which is tasked to uphold freedom of press, in a seven page application has justified restrictions on media in JK. This is a dystopian vision of media freedom.”
Referring to suspension of the council (PCI) during the emergency declared by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the members said, “In this instance (Abrogation of Article 370), no such coercive measures were seen as necessary. It is a matter of shame…”
Under attack over its move to intervene in a case in the apex court over the curbs on communication in Jammu and Kashmir, the PCI has decided to tell the apex court that it does not approve of any sort of restriction on the media and will give a detailed reply after its fact-finding panel submits a report.
The Council made its stand clear even as top media bodies such as the Editors Guild, Press Association, Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), Indian Journalists Union, Working News Camermen’s Association and the Press Club of India, asked it to withdraw its application seeking intervention in the petition filed by Anuradha Bhasin, Executive Editor of Kashmir Times.