Move afoot to give Press Council more powers,says Tewari

The plan is to amend section 14 of the Act that gives the print media watchdog powers to warn,admonish or censure a publication,editor or a journalist if it after an inquiry finds a publication has offended against the standards of journalistic ethics or public taste and the editor or journalist has committed any professional misconduct. On the award of two censures under this section… within a period of six months,the council may ask the authorities concerned to suspend government-funded advertisement to the newspaper and in case of an editor or a journalist,suspend the accreditation of such editor or journalist for a period not exceeding three months, Tewari said revealing the nature of powers that the PCI could get.

If on more than two such instances of non-compliance with the directions issued under this section within a period of one year,the PCI may direct authorities for suspension of registration of newspapers up to a fortnight, hetold the Rajya Sabha in response to a private members resolution moved by TDP member Y S Chowdary seeking formation of an independent and empowered regulatory capable of taking action against erring media.

The move comes against the backdrop of repeated demands by PCI chairman Justice Markandey Katju to give more powers to the council and expand its ambit by bringing the electronic and social media under it. He wants the expanded body to be rechristened the The Media Council.

Tewari,however,said there was a need for build consensus before giving such powers to the Press Council.