Context
The Press Council of India (PCI) has reportedly been functioning with around half of its sanctioned strength for nearly a year and currently has no working journalist or newspaper editor among its members.
About the Press Council of India
- The Press Council of India (PCI) is a statutory, autonomous and quasi-judicial authority.
- It was re-established in 1979 under the Press Council Act, 1978.
- Its principal objectives are:
- Preserving the freedom of the press.
- Maintaining and improving the standards of newspapers and news agencies.
Composition
The PCI comprises a Chairman and 28 members.
Chairman
- The Chairman is typically a retired Judge of the Supreme Court.
- The Chairman is nominated by a committee comprising:
- Chairman of the Rajya Sabha;
- Speaker of the Lok Sabha; and
- An elected representative from among the Council’s members.
Representation among Members
The 28 members represent different sections of the press, Parliament and other fields:
- 13 working journalists, including 6 editors and 7 other working journalists.
- 6 newspaper owners or managers, with two representatives each from large, medium and small newspapers.
- 1 representative of a news agency.
- 5 Members of Parliament, of whom 3 are nominated by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and 2 by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.
- 3 members representing education, law and literature, nominated through the University Grants Commission, Bar Council of India and Sahitya Akademi, respectively.
Key Functions and Powers
- Press Independence: The PCI helps newspapers and news agencies maintain their independence.
- Professional Standards: It promotes a code of conduct aimed at maintaining high professional standards in journalism.
- Public-Interest News: The Council reviews developments that may restrict the supply or dissemination of news of public interest and importance.
- Foreign-Source Assistance: It reviews cases involving assistance received by newspapers or news agencies from foreign sources, when such cases are referred to it by the Central Government.
Adjudication
The PCI adjudicates:
- Complaints against newspapers and news agencies concerning professional or ethical conduct.
- Complaints by the press regarding interference with press freedom.
Institutional Significance
The reported shortage of members has implications for the effective representation of the different constituencies envisaged in the Council’s composition. It also highlights the importance of maintaining the institutional capacity of a statutory body entrusted with matters relating to press freedom and professional standards.
FAQs
Q1. What institutional issue can arise when a statutory body functions below its sanctioned strength for a prolonged period?
A prolonged vacancy situation can affect the body’s representative capacity and institutional functioning, particularly when its composition is designed to include multiple stakeholder groups.
Q2. Why is a plural composition relevant to an institution dealing with the press?
Issues concerning the media can involve journalists, publishers, management, public institutions and wider professional interests. A plural composition enables these perspectives to be considered within the same institutional framework.
Q3. What distinction exists between press freedom and professional responsibility?
Press freedom concerns the ability of the media to function independently, while professional responsibility concerns the standards governing journalistic conduct. The two dimensions are related but conceptually distinct.
Q4. Why can restrictions on public-interest news have wider implications?
The dissemination of public-interest information is central to the informational role of the press. Restrictions affecting such dissemination can therefore influence the availability of information relevant to public discourse.
Q5. What does the quasi-judicial character of the PCI add to its institutional role?
It provides a formal mechanism for examining specified disputes and complaints concerning the press rather than leaving such matters solely to informal professional processes.
