Defending the journalists who exposed the Karnataka legislators watching pornography inside the Assembly, Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju has asked the state’s Speaker to “withdraw the proceedings against them and instead take strong action against the MLAs who have brought disgrace to the House”.
In a letter to Speaker K.G. Bopaiah, he added that “in a democracy all proceedings in a Legislative Assembly must be freely telecast and reported so that the people, who are the supreme authority in a democracy, know how their representatives are behaving.”
Justice Katju felt that the inquiry committee questioning the journalists jeopardises the freedom of the media guaranteed as a fundamental right by the Constitution, and seeks to create an impression that it is the media which has brought the House into disrepute rather than the MLAs involved.
“In my respectful opinion the inquiry committee can certainly ask media persons concerned questions to ascertain correct facts about this sordid affair,” said the letter. “But from what I could gather, the question being asked gives the impression that the media persons are being treated as an accused of some offence, and are being grilled accordingly.”
As legislators, the Karnataka MLAs are accountable to the people of their state who have a right to be kept informed of their actions, said Justice Katju, adding that the media was only doing its duty and “deserved to be applauded for their courageous reporting.”
Thanks to the Congress and the current term of the UPA2 wherein all ethics & morality in public life has been sacrificed , it has given the impression to the Legislators , Parliamentarians and Govt servants that they are the kings and the 'aam-aadmi' or even the media -their servants . The arrogance of the Congress has infected all politicians and hence such behaviour of accused turning accuser in Karnataka now .
It is also really a tragedy that today we dont have a single political leader of repute in India , who can lead by example or is a leader to be emulated by the younger generation .
Justice Katju is the right person AT THE HELM OF THE MEDIA AFFAIRS IN NDIA TODAY .
And Mr. Katju's diktat should be read with SC's (January 31st, The Hindu
titled 'Don't sit on sanction for prosecution in corruption cases, says
Supreme Court') ruling in which the the court declared 'a complaint
against a legislator is the constitutional right of the citizen of the
country'. The case of journalists exposing the misdemeanor of Karnataka
MLAs inside the assembly therefore is a genuine complaint and they
should rather be appreciated and not punished with questioning.
The BJP's credibility in Karnataka is down the drain. The speaker is making a fool of himself - he does not have to question the journalists at all. He just needed to watch the reports on TV. The people he really needs to question are the ministers and MLAs fooling around when they were supposed to be working for the betterment of the state.
So true!
Great Justice Katju Sahab,
You have instilled hope in the institution of press freedom. Prejudice
of these politicians against persons of press exposing them is a common
phenomenon. It is known that the first casualty of prejudice is
objectivity and impartiality. The inquiry committee constituted by
Karnataka Govt. is also marred by its objectivity due to prejudice of
exposing the scandal of their brethren.
I see an Indian for a honest cause, showing strong guts in many articles I have read so far about Mr.Katju. He is beyond religious fanaticism nor in favour of any political outfit or other organisations. We need to have him in a higher position in India, say, PRESIDENT, with sufficient powers to regulate things... I earnestly wish for that.
He is unofficial speaker of Congress.
This is another example of Congress destroying the Constitutional authorities.
Action against the MLA's is being INTENTIONALLY delayed by the Speaker. If he takes action them, he will loose his chair. Instead, he is taking action against Media persons. Also, I don't understand why the Press Council Chairman should bow his head, when the Media persons have not done anything wrong.
The inscriptions inside the Assembly Hall "SATHYA MEVA JAYATHE" TO "ASATHYA MEVA JAYATHE"
Mr Katju is a nice person, he has ample knowldge about law and media,we need like this person,
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