Congress MP Meenakshi Natarajans attempt to push for a law aimed at regulating the media has not found favour with jurists and legal experts,with some terming it an attempt at censorship. Former Chief Justice of India J S Verma,who also heads the News Broadcasting Standards Authority,the self-regulatory initiative of the News Broadcasters Association,feels such attempts are aimed at curbing the fundamental rights of the citizens. While I have always said that media needs to introspect so as to maintain its credibility and independence,there is no way a government-appointed body can be allowed to regulate the media. It must be self-regulation alone. While Parliament has the right to pass any law,as a citizen of this country,it will be a sad day if such a legislation is passed. Instead of such kind of regulation,government should facilitate a self-regulation mechanism. It would be more dignified. Since the TV channels put in place a system of self-regulation,there has been a considerable improvement in the content, the highly-respected jurist said. As reported by The Indian Express,Natarajan was on Friday scheduled to introduce a private members Bill Print and Electronic Media Standards and Regulation Bill,2012 that aims to establish a Print and Electronic Media Regulation Authority with a view to lay down standards to be followed by the print and electronic media. Senior Supreme COurt lawyer Rajeev Dhavan said,These knee-jerk reactions have to be deplored. A free,fair media has played an important role in keeping democracy functional in this country. As counsel for the Editors Guild of India,Dhavan,who is appearing before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in the matter of fixing guidelines for media,earlier this week told the apex court that laying down guidelines would endanger free speech and the court had no power or jurisdiction to do so. Press Council of India Chairperson Justice Markandey Katju said he was in favour of regulation but not control of media. There is a difference between regulation and control. When there is control there is no freedom. But when there is regulation there is freedom but it subject to reasonable restrictions in the public interest. But there cant be any government control, he said. No body or organisation. can function without regulation, he said. Former Delhi HC Chief Justice A P Shah,who is chairman of Indian Broadcasting Federations Broadcasting Content Complaint Council,said,This would be the death knell for Indian democracy. Senior SC lawyer and vice chairperson of the Law Commission of India K T S Tulsi said,It would be nothing but censorship. In this day and age,how can you have such a law? It will be ill-conceived and unconstitutional.
