Lok Sabha Question No. 294 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-07-19
Subject: Press Freedom
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Mala Roy, Andimuthu Raja, A. Ganeshamurthi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 294 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2022

## PRESS FREEDOM

294.  SHRIMATI MALA ROY:

SHRI A. RAJA:

SHRI A. GANESHAMURTHI:

## Will the Minister of INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING be pleased to state:

- a)  whether it is a fact that India ranked in the bottom 30 worst nations out of 180 as maintained by the media watchdog in the World Press Freedom Index;
- b)  if so, the reasons therefor;
- c)  whether the Government has made any analysis of the reasons due to which press freedom is on the decline and if so, the steps taken to restore it;
- d)  whether the executive is using unfettered powers through various laws like National Security  Act,  IPC  Sedition  Law,  UAP  Act.,  etc.,  to  gag  the  freedom  of  journalists and threaten them;
- e)  if so, the number of complaints received by the Government and Press Council of India in this regard, during each of the last three years and the current year; and
- f) the details of action taken by the Government in each such complaint?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING; AND MINISTER OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS (SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR)

(a) to (c) The World Press Freedom Index is published by a foreign NonGovernment-Organization, 'Reporters Without Borders'. The Government does not subscribe to its views and country rankings and does  not  agree  to  the  conclusions  drawn  by  this  organisation  for various reasons including very low sample size, little or no weightage to  fundamentals  of  democracy,  adoption  of  a  methodology  which  is

questionable and non-transparent, etc. (d) to (f) In pursuance of its policy to uphold the freedom of press, the Government does not interfere in the functioning of the press. Press Council of India (PCI), a statutory autonomous body, has been set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 mainly to preserve the freedom of the  Press  and  improve  the  standards  of  newspapers  and  news agencies in the country. PCI considers complaints filed 'by the Press' concerning  curtailment  of  press  freedom,  physical  assault/attack  on journalists  etc.  under  Section  13  of  the  Press  Council  Act  1978  and processed  under  the  provisions  of  Press Council  (Procedure  for Inquiry)  Regulations,  1979.  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.

Central Government attaches highest importance to the safety and security  of  all  residents  of  the  country  including  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 20th October, 2017 requesting them to strictly enforce the law to ensure safety and security of journalists/ media persons etc.

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