Mangalore: Justice Katju Slams Media, Calls for Amendment to Press Council Act

Pics: Spoorthy Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV)

Mangalore, Dec 5: "Freedom of press has its own value in the Constitution; it is not to deceive, harm, or hurt the common man. The press has its own responsibility in society, but in the present scenario the media has no concern towards society, and it never highlights reports on social issues or social problems like deaths of farmers, poverty, healthcare  malnutrition, grievance of common man. It only gives importance to news items of Kareena Kapoor, India-Pakistan cricket and others," said Justice Markandey Katju, chairman, Press Council of India and former judge of the Supreme Court of India.

He was addressing an interactive session with the media held at SDM Law College here on Wednesday December 5.

"The media assumes and considers the pains of oppressed classes as non-issues. So I say here you must be balanced," he said.

"India is in a transition period, and its current situation will continue for the next 15 to 20 years. Young journalist should be like Voltaire, Rousseau and Thomas Penn, who fought to wipe out feudalism and herald a modern society in Europe. Even in France, Charles Campbell waged war with the aristocrats. It has become rule among the Indian media to run behind TRP and ratings. When the cricket match took place in Mohali between India and Pakistan it was treated by the media as a 'Mahabharat war'. Is this an issue or a problem to the common man? Does this solve the problems of the common man? Does it solve poverty and healthcare problems?" he questioned. 

Slamming the media further, he said, "Death news of Rajesh Khanna and Dev Anand are hyped. This is one reason why the media should feel ashamed of its irresponsibility. Present day in Europe politicians are licking the boots of Rupert Murdoch , whereas in India Zee network tries to mint money by extortion and blackmail. It is so difficult to tolerate."

He added, "In Bombay 512 journalists write and report about the Lakhme Fashion Week but only two local journalists write about the condition of farmers in Vidharba. Close to 2,50,000 farmers died due to various problems but unfortunately it did not become news to media."

Addressing reporters he said, "I am in favour of media, I support the media, but when you do odd things I criticize you. When a lawyer goes against his professional ethics he is thrown out by the bar council, when judges are found guilty they are impeached by the parliamentary bodies. So why shouldn't your licence be cancelled? Are you gods?"

Calling for amendments to Press Council Act to penalize erring journalists, Justice Katju said, "Indian Constitution provides freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1) but in Article 19(2) the same freedom can be restricted. The Press Council Act should be amended so that it will provide liberty and also regulate the press through appropriate punishments."

In addition, he also advocated the formation of a media council to replace the press council, so that both the print as well as the electronic media could be regulated. Stating that he would discuss the matter with the union government soon, he said the media council should include 48 members instead of 28 as in the present press council. These 48 members should consist of 20 members each from the print and electronic media, he added.

"For me my country is supreme, not the media or journalists. I am always ready to preserve and uphold the Constitutional dignity of the country. It is the duty of the media to give scientific vision, encourage rational thinking and combat superstitions among the people," he said.
 
Principal of SDM Law College B K Ravindra announced on the occasion that Justice Markandey Katju had been made member of the governing council and visiting guest faculty of SDM Law College.

Press Council of India member Rajeev Ranjan Nag was present on the occasion.