PRESS COMMISSION AND PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA

PRESS COMMISSION AND PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA-

Trace the history of the first and the second press commission.

First Press Commission (1952-54):

The first Press Commission was formed under the Chairmanship of Justice J. S. Rajadhyakhsa on 23rd September 1952 by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to inquire into the state of the Press in India. Some of the other members of the 11-member working group were Dr. C.P. Ramaswamy Aiyer, Acharya Narendra Deo, Dr. Zakir Hussain, and Dr. V.K.V. Rao. It was asked to look into factors, which influence the establishment and maintenance of high standards of journalism in India.

The Commission inquired into the control, management and ownership, the financial structure as well as other important aspects of the newspaper industry in the country. The Commission, after a careful and detailed study, concluded that there should be indigenisation of both capital and the staff especially at the higher levels and it was highly desirable that proprietorial interests in daily and weekly newspapers should vest predominantly in Indian hands.

After considering the recommendations of the Press Commission and the Note submitted by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, the Union Cabinet adopted a Resolution on 13 September, 1955, which became the basic policy document in regard to the Press in India. The resolution is as follows:-

“The Cabinet considered the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting’s note dated May 4, 1955, and was of the view that so far as the ownership of newspapers and periodicals by nationals of other countries was concerned, the problem was not a very serious one as there were only a few such newspapers and periodicals. The Cabinet, therefore, felt that no action needs to be taken in regard to these newspapers and periodicals but that no foreign-owned newspaper or periodical should, in future, be permitted to be published in India. The Cabinet, however, agreed that the other recommendation of the Commission that foreign newspapers and periodicals, which dealt mainly with news and current affairs, should not be allowed to bring out Indian editions, should be accepted in principle.

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During the past 46 years since the above Resolution came into effect, no foreign newspaper or periodical has been allowed to be published from India nor has any foreign investment in the domestic print media sector been permitted.

However, in the new context of globalization, the demand for foreign participation and investment in the print media has been raised by a section of the newspaper industry. In the public debate which has taken place on this issue, the opinion of the print media has been divided. Since the issue has far reaching consequences for the Press in India, the Committee decided to take up this subject for a detailed study. A public notice was issued.

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The commission was appointed because after independence the role of the press was changing from a mission to business. It found that there was a great deal of scurrilous writing often directed against communities or groups, of indecency and vulgarity and personal attacks on individuals. It also noted that yellow journalism was on the increase in the country and was not particularly confined to any area or language. The commission, however, found that the well established, newspapers on the whole, had maintained a high standard of journalism.

It remarked that whatever the law relating the press may be, there would still be a large quantity of objectionable journalism, which, though not falling within the purview of the law, would still require some checking. It felt that the best way of maintaining professional standards of journalism would be to bring into existence a body of people principally connected with the industry whose responsibility would be to arbitrate on doubtful points and to ensure the punishment of any one guilty of infraction of good journalistic behavior. An important recommendation of the commission was the setting up of a Statutory Press Commission at the national level, consisting of press people and lay members. Its recommendation and the action taken can be summed up as follows:

• To protect the freedom of the press and to maintain high standards of journalism, a press council should be established.

The press council of India was established on July 4, 1966 which started functioning from November 16 (on this date, National Press Day is celebrated) 1966.

• To prepare the account of the press and the position of every year, there should be appointment of the Registrar of Newspaper for India (RNI).

It was also accepted and RNI was appointed in July 1956.

• Price-page schedule should be introduced.

It was also accepted in 1956.

• For maintaining a cordial relationship between the government and the Press, a Press Consultative Committee should be constituted.

It was accepted and a Press Consultative Committee was constituted on 22nd September

1962.

• Working Journalists Act should be implemented.

The government implemented this and in 1955 the working journalist and other newspaper employees (conditions of services) and miscellaneous Provisions Act was set up.

• It recommended establishment of a fact-finding Committee to evaluate the financial position of the newspapers and news agencies.

A Fact Finding Committee was set up on 14th April 1972. It submitted its report on 14th January 1975.

• For protecting the main principles of the freedom of the press and to help the newspapers against monopolistic tendencies, a Newspaper Financial Corporation should be constituted.

It was accepted in principle and on 4th December 1970, a Bill was also presented in the Lok Sabha, but it lapsed.

Composition Of The Press Council

The Press Council Act, 1965 provided for a 25-member strong body out of which 3 were to represent the two houses of Parliament, 13 were to be from amongst the working journalists, of which not less than 6 were to be editors who did not own or carry on the business of management of newspapers and the rest were to be the persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of education and science, law, literature and culture. By an amendment of the Act in 1970, the membership of the Council was raised by one to provide a seat for persons managing the news agencies. The same amendment also made new provisions for the appointments of the chairman and other member of the Council. From 1970 onwards till 1979, the chairman and other members of the council were nominated by a  Nominating Committee consisting of the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Chief Justice of India and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Press Council of India was revamped in 1979 following the enactment of a fresh legislation by Parliament in 1978. Although the composition of the council underwentb few changes, but the objectives of the council remain the same:

Preserving the freedom of the press

Maintaining and improving the standards of press in India

The present Council is a body corporate having perpetual succession. It consists of a Chairman and 28 other members. Of the 28 members, 13 represent the working journalists. Of whom 6 are to be editors of newspapers and remaining 7 are to be working journalists other than editors. 6 are to be from among persons who own or carry on the business of management of newspapers. One is to be from among the persons who manage news agencies. Three are to be persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of education and science, law and literature and culture. The remaining five are to Members of Parliament : three from Lok Sabha, and two from Rajya Sabha.

Functions of Press Council Of India

The Press Council Act, 1965, listed the following functions of the Council in furtherance of its objects:

To help newspapers to maintain their independence

To build up a code of conduct for newspapers and journalists in accordance with high professional standards

To ensure on the part of newspapers and journalists the maintenance of high standards of public taste and foster a due sense of both the rights and responsibilities of citizenship

To encourage the growth of a sense of responsibility and public service among all those engaged in the profession of journalism

To keep under review any development likely to restrict the supply and dissemination of news of public interest and importance

To keep under review such cases of assistance received by any newspaper or news agency in India from foreign sources, as are referred to it by the Central Government

Provided that nothing in this clause shall preclude the Central Government from dealing with any case of assistance received by a newspaper or news agency in India from foreign sources in any other manner it thinks fit

To promote the establishment of such common service for the supply and dissemination of news to newspapers as may, from time to time, appear to it to be desirable;

To provide facilities for the proper education and training of persons in the profession of journalism

To promote a proper functional relationship among all classes of persons engaged in the production or publication of newspapers

To study developments which may tend towards monopoly or concentration of ownership of newspapers, including a study of the ownership or financial structure of newspapers, and if necessary, to suggest remedies therefore

To promote technical or other research

The Press Council of India 1978 Act added three new functions for the council:

a) promoting the establishment of such common services for the supply and dissemination of news to newspapers as may, from time to time, appear to it to be desirable;(b) providing facilities for proper education and training of persons in the profession of journalism; and (c) promoting technical or other research

Powers Of The Council

The Press Council can’t force any newspaper, news agency, editor or journalist to reveal the source of any news or information

The council has power to censure any news which violates the standards of journalistic ethics or public taste

The council can hold inqury against an editor or a working jpournalist if s/he is found of committing professional misconduct

Every inquiry held by the Council shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code

Second Press Commission:

The government of India constituted the Second Press Commission on May 29, 1978. The second press commission wanted the press to be neither a mindless adversary nor an unquestioning ally. The commission wanted the press to play a responsible role in the development process. The press should be widely accessible to the people if it is to reflect their aspirations and problems.

The question of urban bias too has received attention of the commission. The commission said that for development to take place, internal stability was as important as safeguarding national security. The commission also highlighted the role (and, therefore, responsibility) of the press in preventing and deflating communal conflict.

Both press commissions of India included several respectable members from the press. The recommendation of the first press commission for the first time provides idea of what a responsible press should be. The second press commission formulated in a clear manner that development should be the central focus of the press in a country, which is building itself to become a self-reliant and prosperous society. The commission declared that a responsible press could also be a free press and vice versa. Freedom and responsibility are complimentary but not contradictory terms. The main recommendations can be briefed as follows:

• An attempt should be made to establish a cordial relation between the government and the press.

• For the development of small and medium newspaper, there should be establishment of newspaper Development Commission.

• Newspaper industries should be separated from industries and commercial interests.

• There should be appointment of Board of Trustees between editors and proprietors of the newspaper.

• Price-page schedule should be introduced.

• There should be a fixed proportion of news and advertisements in small, medium and big newspaper.

• Newspaper industries should be relieved from the impact of foreign capital.

• No predictions should be published in newspapers and magazines.

• The misuse of the image of the advertisement should be discontinued.

• The government should prepare a stable Advertisement Policy.

• The Press Information Bureau should be reconstituted.

• Press laws should be amended.

                        - SUCHISMITA DAS