Lok Sabha Question No. 1124 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Security to Journalists/Media Persons
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT, SANJAY(KAKA) RAMCHANDRA PATIL, SUPRIYA SADANAND SULE, DHANANJAY BHIMRAO MAHADIK, RAJEEV SHANKARRAO SATAV, HARISH CHANDRA MEENA, SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI, VIJAYSINH MOHITE PATIL, P.R. SUNDARAM, JAYAKUMAR JAYAVARDHAN, SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV, SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL, A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1124

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH JULY, 2018/ SHRAVANA 2, 1940 (SAKA) SECURITY TO JOURNALISTS/MEDIA PERSONS

1124.

DR. HEENA VIJAYKUMAR GAVIT:

SHRI SANJAY KAKA PATIL:

SHRIMATI SUPRIYA SULE:

SHRI DHANANJAY MAHADIK:

SHRI SATAV RAJEEV:

SHRI HARISH MEENA:

SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

SHRI MOHITE PATIL VIJAYSINH SHANKARRAO:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN:

SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR MONDAL:

SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Journalists/media persons who have been attacked/killed during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the number of inquiries conducted, persons arrested, convicted and the action taken against the guilty during the said period, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has issued any advisory/guidelines/directions to the States to provide adequate safety and security to Journalists/media persons and if so, the details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  existing  laws  for  safety/security  of  journalists/media persons are adequate keeping in view the rise in incidents of attack/killing of such persons;
- (e)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto; and
- (f) whether the Government has received any request from journalists/media persons for providing security over death threats, if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon along with the steps being taken  to  provide  better  security  to  journalists  and  media  persons  in  the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (f): While  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  collects  data pertaining  to  murders,  it  does  not  collect  data  in  respect  of  separate categories of professionals, including journalists.

'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. The existing laws are adequate for protection of  citizens  including  journalists.  Also  the  Press  Council  of  India  takes appropriate action on receipt of specific complaints from affected journalists.  Representations on providing security are received from or on behalf  of  individuals,  including  journalists.    All  such  representations  are examined  and  based  on  inputs  received  regarding  threat  assessment, required action is taken.  There is no mechanism/requirement to segregate the request/ protectees according to profession of the individuals.

Central Government attaches highest importance to prevention of crime. An advisory on safety of journalists has been issued to States/UTs on 20th October 2017, which is available at the Ministry of Home Affairs' website viz www.mha.gov.in.

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