PRESS
NOTE
December
17, 2012
I have been informed today by Shri
Rajeev Ranjan Nag, Member, Press Council of India and Convener of the team I
appointed for looking into complaints of paid news and violation of Press
freedom in the Gujarat election, that large scale practice of paid news in the
recent Gujarat elections has come to the notice of the fact finding team.
The full report about this is still
being prepared and shall be submitted to me shortly, but I am informed that not
only the print media but even the visual media (TV Channels) indulged in large
scale practice of paid news in the Gujarat elections.
This is indeed shocking and very
disturbing as it is a heavy blow to democracy in the country. Certain
politicians seem to be making a mockery of the purity of elections, and in
their desire to get elected are prepared to go to any extent.
After I receive the full report of the
fact finding team I shall inform the Election Commission of India about it (as
well as the general public and concerned authorities) and request that elections of candidates who
indulged in paid news and violation of press freedom in the recent election
should be cancelled, as was done in the case of an elected candidate in the
recent U.P Legislative Assembly Elections.
This also vindicates my plea for
effective media regulation and punitive powers in the proposed Media Council
for taking action against the delinquent media. ‘Self regulation’ has proved to
be ineffective, and the recent Gujarat elections is the latest example of the
malaise in a large section of the media, and it is not just an aberration.
(Justice
Markandey Katju)
Chairman,
Press Council of India
When will this report be available?
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteSelf regulation is a myth. Media has been a tool in the hands of the few and has truly become an ideological apparatus of the state and serves the purpose of the power-that-be.
I fully agree with your view that there must be a representative body whose majority members may belong to that fraternity to regulate the Media and that body must have effective teeth.
Sir, Public know who pays to who for news!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your efforts.
We are with u sir... pls take this matter to a meaniningfull end.
ReplyDeleteJustice Katju has promised that he will unearth the truth behind "Paid Media" but has not promised that his report woth be a "Paid report"
ReplyDeleteThis is happening against Gujrat from last 10 years. Specialy in Electronic media.
ReplyDeletewhen all the three body of our democracy are not exempted from regulation and responsibility ,it is very difficult to understand why only media is exempted from this merely on the basis of self regulation....it is very necessary that at least electronic media must be brought in supervision....currently the case of zee-jindal have shown the malpractisees in media....i see daily on tv that how frivilous and insignificant news are shown on many news channel...i am completely agree with you sir...it is need of current time to bring media in supervision ....
ReplyDeleteTwo journalists/ editors of a reputed news channel were freed today from jail on bail. Should we say 'sorry'?
ReplyDeletePropaganda managers like Mr. Gobels remain "Anonymous" and or "Unknown", masked for some illegitimate, illegal, unethical, undeserving, objective / gains. "Nakali chehara saamne aaye asli surat chhupee rahe".
ReplyDeleteSantosh,
Deleteanon is the best way in this kind of debates. Otherwise wordsmiths are capable of turning debates to personal.
Objective and Dispassionate: What is efficiency and effectiveness of all 4 pillars of democracy, in this country, India? Its teri bhi chup, meri bhi chup game going on among all 4 (inefficients and ineffectives). Mango men are the victims. Its "Ravan raj" in all states of India.
ReplyDeletepoliticos-business-Bureaucracy-media nexus is called Indian State and federal government. New norm in India after Post Lal bahadur Shastry era. Its either an egg thief or a hen thief one has to elect in any election from village to Capital of India. This is an ideal similarity with the "Rabhan- Rajya" in erstwhile "Lanka".
ReplyDeletePls. read correction: ....New norm in India, post Lal Bahadur Shastry era.
DeleteSo long no white money funded democracy India will remain largest but worst democracy in the world. We should try some thing like: PARTY FINACING: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Party_finance_in_Germany
ReplyDeleteRespected Justice Katju, If i were at your place, I wud have certainly shed slave mentality and would never have enjoyed the unnecessary long vacation enjoyed by British Judges in India. Wud certainly have abolished such tradition of long vacations in all Courts through out India. If PIL can be moved, I will be the first Petitioner.
ReplyDeleteBest Regards
Santosh Kagvate
A practicing criminal (sic) cannot be expected to have self regulation and control. There are such elements in the media and an independent body must be the watch dog to oversee media activism and overkill under falsehood.
ReplyDeleteWe definitely wait for your action Mr. Katju. It is easy to demand suspension of erring police officials....
ReplyDeleteWe will see if this report comes out at all, will you name the papers/channels or not and can you really punish anyone of them. SATYAM will come out soon.
Why during election only? Paid news should be banned anytime. If it is legally not possible then at least it should be exposed so that people become aware and don't follow in traps of journos!
ReplyDeleteWhether "Regulation / Regulator" concept of governance in India is successful? Are Telecom regulators / Market Regulators / This Regulators / That Regulators, successful in taming / containing criminal minds? My personal experience is very bad. They are "invertebrate inteligents" or "old age homes" at maximum. Nothing more than that. Why we need another regulator? If Regulators are a bunch of successful people, doesn't National Capital or desert state need "Rape Regulator" or US may experiment with "Guns Regulator".
ReplyDeleteBasic Ethics / Law abiding nature is missing in Indian People.
Very effective and efficient Traffic Laws and enforcement of same is the basic need in this country. Yes, this experiment in Singapore, enforcement of stringent traffic laws had lowered overall crime rate to virtually minimal value.
After Respected Mrs. Indira Gandhi, nobody upheld traffic laws, traffic Cops, Traffic sense, Traffic discipline.
"Yatha Raja tatha praja".
I'm looking for an ideal person to be followed in my life. Does 4 pillars offer their candidature by setting very high standards of behaviour? Its all either an egg thief or a hen thief nation named "Bharat" after somebody great "Bharat".
Is this your personal blog or official one? Why is it posted here?
ReplyDeleteSir,
ReplyDeleteVery well said..Keep going..as this is being happening since long!
anti climb fence
Sir, when will be the report available?
ReplyDeletedir do you have some solution to abort this undemocratic practice of political parties as well as media ..........
ReplyDelete