Editors Guild deplores Justice Katju's draconian views on media

New Delhi, Nov.2 (ANI): The Editors Guild of India has deplored comments made by Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju about media and media professionals, which it said was "ill-considered, sweeping and uninformed."

The apex association of media editors also objected to his requests to the government to bring electronic media under the purview of the Council. In a recent interview with Karan Thapa on the Devil's Advocate program, Justice Katju said the media divides people on religious lines and is anti-people.

He objected to TV channels' focus on cricket and other subjects that he disapproves of. He even believes that journalists have not studied economics, politics, literature or philosophy, and he has a poor opinion of the media and media people, the Guild said in a statement.

The Guild termed Justice Katju's requests to the government for powers to impose fines on the media, to withdraw advertisements and to suspend the licence to publish or broadcast as "draconian".

"The Guild strongly opposes such powers being given to the Council, especially a Council led by someone who it would seem wants to invoke fear in the media," it said.

The association of editors said that its attempt to engage in dialogue with Katju has been rendered futile by him. He, however, continues to express his tendentious and offensive views. "The Guild wishes to remind Mr Katju that the Indian media is as diverse as it is vigorous, and that while it has drawbacks and shortcomings, on the whole, it contributes to the strength of the Indian system," the statement said.

"Press freedom is a bulwark for the Indian people against the onslaught of people in authority, and the Guild will firmly oppose the assumption of any draconian powers by a Press Council that was created with an altogether different purpose," the apex body of editors said.

The Guild also said that only the print media comes within the Council's ambit and the issues and drivers of the electronic media call for a separate regulation. "The Guild firmly believes that the Press Council should have its brief limited to the print media, as it is at the present," it added. (ANI)