Lok Sabha Question No. 336 (STARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Security to Journalists/Media Persons
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Kunwar Danish Ali

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *336

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 21 ST  DECEMBER, 2021/ AGRAHAYANA 30, 1943 (SAKA)

SECURITY TO JOURNALISTS/MEDIA PERSONS

*336.     KUNWAR DANISH ALI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  incidents  of  attack  on  media  persons/murder  of journalists, etc. are on the rise in the country;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  total  number  of  journalists  injured/killed separately,  guilty  persons  arrested  and  the  action  taken  against  them  during each of the last five years and the current year, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Government has received any report/ recommendations from the Press Council of India on the safety of media persons/journalists;
- (d)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  action  taken  by  the  Government  in  this regard;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  constituted  any  committee  to  investigate  the attacks on journalists and settle the case within a specified time frame and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  protection  of  journalists, bloggers, scribes, reporters, Newspaper Offices and TV Stations?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

- (a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *336 FOR 21.12.2021 REGARDING SECURITY TO JOURNALISTS/MEDIA PERSONS

'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects as per the Seventh Schedule to the  Constitution  of  India.  The  responsibilities  of  maintaining  law  and  order, including  safety  and  security  of  journalists,  rests  primarily  with  the  respective State  Governments.  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  does  not  maintain specific data on cases in respect of journalists.

The Government is committed to ensure the right to freedom of speech and expression  enshrined  under  the  Article  19  of  the  Constitution  of  India.    Press Council  of  India  (PCI),  a  statutory  autonomous  body,  set  up  under  the  Press Council Act, 1978 considers complaints filed 'by the Press' concerning curtailment of press freedom, physical assault/attack on journalists etc.  PCI is also empowered to take suo-motu cognizance in matters on the pressing issues concerning freedom of Press and safeguarding of its high standards.

The Press Council of India had constituted a Sub-Committee to examine the issue  of  Safety  of  Journalists.  The  report  of  Sub-Committee  submitted  on 23.07.2015 carried various recommendations with regard to safety and security of Journalists. The existing laws are adequate for protection of citizens including journalists.

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## L.S.S.Q.NO.*336 FOR 21.12.2021

Central  Government  attaches  the  highest  importance  to  the  safety  and security of citizens of the country including the journalists. The Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories to States and UTs, from time to time, to maintain law and order and ensure that any person who takes law into his/her own hand is punished  promptly  as  per  law.  An  advisory  specifically  on  safety  of  journalists was  issued  to  States/UTs  on  20 th   October,  2017  requesting  them  to  strictly enforce the law to ensure safety and security of media persons.

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