Press Council of India (PCI)

Introduction

The Press Council of India (PCI) is a statutory, quasi-judicial and the independent body that serves as a watchdog to print media in India. It is a self-regulatory organization that was set up to ensure freedom of press and high standards of journalism.

Historical Background

• Background: It was an autonomous body that was suggested in 1956 by the first Press Commission to control the press.
• Establishment: PCI was initially established in 1966 by Press Council Act, 1965.
• Reconstitution: It was repealed under the Emergency (1975) and was reinstated in the year 1979 under the Press Council Act, 1978.

Composition of the Council

The Council is a corporate body which is perpetually successive, consisting of:

• Chairperson: This is a retired Supreme Court judge, who is elected by a committee of three comprising of the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Speaker of Lok Sabha, and a member of the PCI.
• Members: 28 members, including:
  • 13 news reporters (including 6 editors).
  • 6 newspaper owners/managers representatives.
  • 1 representative of the news agencies.
  • Parliament members (3 Lok Sabha, 2 Rajya Sabha) 5.
  • 3 members of the specialized disciplines (nominated by UGC, Bar Council and Sahitya Akademi).
• Term: The Chairperson and members have a term of office up to 3 years.

Objectives and Functions

The primary twin objectives of the PCI are preserving press freedom and improving newspaper standards in India.

• Adjudication: It does investigate acts of violation of ethics on the part of press, and of acts of violation of press freedom on the part of authorities.
• Code of Conduct: It develops and implements a code of ethics to journalists and news agencies with emphasis on Norms of Journalistic Conduct.
• Monitoring: It is an overview of the trends of curtailing free flow of news.
• Advisory Role: It consults the government in terms of media issues policies and legislations.
• Independent Functioning: It assists newspapers to be independent and creates a desire to serve the people.

Powers and Jurisdiction

• Quasi-Judicial: It has the power to warn, admonish or even sanction newspapers, editors, or journalists who abuse ethics, but not to penalize them.
• Inventory: It can call witnesses and under oath take evidence in the powers of a civil court.
• Finality of Decisions: Finality of its decisions can not be disputed in a court of law.
• Limitations:
  • Print Media Only: The PCI has jurisdiction over the print media only. It lacks control over the electronic or digital media.
  • None Penal Authority: It does not have the authority to either levy financial fines or prohibit any legal punishment.

Download as PDF