Contempt of Court Act needs to be amended for media: Katju

He was interacting with the media during his visit to the city. When asked whether the proposed Supreme Court norms on reporting — a reporter covering the Supreme Court must have a law degree and at least seven years of experience — are acceptable,Katju said there was no need for such norms and the PCI would take up the matter with the apex court if it receives written representation from journalists.

Katju said profit-making tendency of some media owners and contractual-basis hiring of journalists are hampering quality of journalism. “The press is commercialised to a large extent. In this business,profits and social responsibility need to be balanced and if that does not happen,society will not accept the media for long. As an independent and statutory body,the PCI shall ensure that a balance is struck between profit-making and social responsibility,” he said.

He said there is a need for journalists to have job security. Shunning the practice of contractual employment in the media is on the agenda of the PCI,he added.

Speaking of security of journalists,Katju reiterated that PCI would take up the case of Mumbai-based journalist J Dey’s murder with the state government and demand re-investigation into the matter. “We suspect police are covering-up investigations and there is a need to re-look at the investigations,” he said.

Katju said the country was going though a very difficult ‘concession’ period,that of a transition from feudal agricultural society to modern industrial society. This is a very painful period which will continue for another 10-15 years and everyone has to contribute to make it an easy transition. Media has an important role to play in promoting modern ideas and discouraging old beliefs and superstitions.