INS deplores action of the Press Council

NEW DELHI, OCT 6: Mammen Mathew, president of the Indian Newspaper Society INS, has in a statement today termed as most unfortunate''...

NEW DELHI, OCT 6: Mammen Mathew, president of the Indian Newspaper Society INS, has in a statement today termed as 8220;most unfortunate8221; the action of the Press Council of India PCI in passing a resolution against the principled stand taken by INS regarding certain issues of vital concern impinging upon the integrity and freedom of the press in India.

The INS president was reacting to PCI chairman Justice PB Sawant8217;s statement that the contract system of employment as it exists now 8220;tends to compromise the independence of journalists and therefore the freedom of the press is a plausible and reasonable view.8221; Sawant has in the past also suggested a cooperative form of ownership for newspapers.

Mathew, who is also a PCI member, said that it was a sad day for democracy when the values which the INS stands for were sought to be denigrated in such unwarranted fashion. In his note of dissent to the resolution passed by a majority vote in the Press Council, Mathew had said: 8220;The Indian Newspaper Society isa central body for the press in India and stands committed to preserving the freedom of the press and to maintain and improve the standards of newspapers, which is the mandate of the Press Council of India.

8220;While the INS shares in common with the Press Council of India these values, it felt extremely concerned about certain statements and actions of the Chairman and the Press Council which, in its view, were detrimental to the interests of the press in India. The first major issue of concern has been certain statements questioning the validity of the existing patterns of ownership of newspapers in the country. It is the considered view of INS that there is no reason to question the fact that a large segment of the newspaper industry is in the hands of the private sector, since both owners and journalists, working in the industry, have consistently striven to uphold the integrity and freedom of the press in India.8221;

8220;The INS is also of the view that institutions such as the Press Council of India shouldconfine themselves to their designated role prescribed under relevant statutes and regulations. In this context, it is not appropriate for the Press Council to delve into the issue of the contract system for journalists, which, under the law of the land, is a matter to be settled between the employers and the employees.8221;

8220;The INS also expressed its concern over the treatment meted out by authorities to one of the leading publishers; and for the unwarranted censure by the Press Council of a premier newspaper for using its columns to speak up for violation of human rights by certain authorities.8221;

8220;While the INS holds the Press Council and the office of its chairman in high esteem, it cannot remain a mute witness to any onslaught on the values it strives to uphold.8221;