Govt rejects Katju's plea on channels

Press Council of India (PCI) chairman Justice Markandey Katju’s suggestion to bring electronic media under its ambit has found no favour from the government.

It has rather been junked as the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry wants the present mechanism of self-regulation by the electronic media to continue, sources in the government said.

Last year, after taking charge of PCI, Katju had urged the government to make suitable amendments to bring the electronic media under its ambit and rechristen the council as “Media Council.”  He had also sought more powers for the council and make its recommendations mandatory.

When asked if the government was taking any action on Katju’s suggestion, a source said there was no move to bring the electronic media under any regulatory body set up by the government.

“A peer review from the industry body will be the best course. They are much savvy. They understand the sector better. We tend to lean on the side of self-regulation,” he said, underlining that the mechanism of self regulation adopted by the news broadcasters was evolving and “doing well.”