Monday 17 December 2012

Press Note : Paid News in Gujarat Elections


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
                                                                                               
                       

             
           
  

23 comments:

  1. When will this report be available?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sir,
    Self 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.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sir, Public know who pays to who for news!

    Thanks for your efforts.

    ReplyDelete
  4. We are with u sir... pls take this matter to a meaniningfull end.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Justice Katju has promised that he will unearth the truth behind "Paid Media" but has not promised that his report woth be a "Paid report"

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is happening against Gujrat from last 10 years. Specialy in Electronic media.

    ReplyDelete
  7. when 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 ....

    ReplyDelete
  8. Two journalists/ editors of a reputed news channel were freed today from jail on bail. Should we say 'sorry'?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Propaganda 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".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Santosh,

      anon is the best way in this kind of debates. Otherwise wordsmiths are capable of turning debates to personal.

      Delete
  10. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  11. politicos-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".

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pls. read correction: ....New norm in India, post Lal Bahadur Shastry era.

      Delete
  12. So 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

    ReplyDelete
  13. Respected 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.
    Best Regards
    Santosh Kagvate

    ReplyDelete
  14. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  15. We definitely wait for your action Mr. Katju. It is easy to demand suspension of erring police officials....
    We 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.

    ReplyDelete
  16. 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!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Whether "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".
    Basic 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".

    ReplyDelete
  18. Is this your personal blog or official one? Why is it posted here?

    ReplyDelete
  19. Sir,

    Very well said..Keep going..as this is being happening since long!

    anti climb fence

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sir, when will be the report available?

    ReplyDelete
  21. dir do you have some solution to abort this undemocratic practice of political parties as well as media ..........

    ReplyDelete