Lok Sabha Question No. 3332 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-21
Subject: Journalists Arrested under UAPA
Ministry: INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING
Asked by: Pradyut Bordoloi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3332 TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2023

## JOURNALISTS ARRESTED UNDER UAPA

## 3332. SHRI PRADYUT BORDOLOI:

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

- (a) the  details  and  the  number  of  Journalists  arrested  under  Unlawful  Activities Prevention  Amendment  Act  (UAPA),  Indian  Penal  Code  and  other  penal  laws during the last five years and the current year;
- (b) the details and the number of Information Technology surveys and raids carried out at News organizations by the Government during the last five years and the current year;
- (c) the details and the number of online news content banned by the Government during the such period;
- (d) whether it is a fact that women journalists in India are targeted by online abuses as  well  as  physical  attacks  as  reported  by  a  United  Nations  Educational, Scientific and  Cultural  Organization  (UNESO)  funded  report  published  by International Centre for Journalists (ICFJ);
- (e) if  so,  the  number  of  such  complaints  received  and  action  taken  by  the Government for the protection of women journalists; and
- (f)  the  details  of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  improve  India's  ranking  in  the World Freedom Index?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  to  (e)  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and State Governments are  responsible  for  prevention,  detection  and  investigation  of  crimes and  for  prosecuting  the  criminals  through  their  law  enforcement agencies.  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  does  not  maintain data separately for Journalists/ media personnel.

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.

The content of the publishers of news and current affairs on digital media  and  publishers  of  online  curated  content  (OTT  Platforms)  is regulated  by  Ministry  of  I&B  as  per  the  provisions  of  part-III  of  the Information  Technology  (Intermediary  Guidelines  and  Digital  Media Ethics Code) Rule, 2021. Under the provisions of IT Rules, 2021, the Ministry  of  Information  &  Broadcasting  has  issued  directions  for blocking  from  public  access  of  110  You  Tube  based  news  channels and 248 user generated URLs, including webpages, websites, posts/accounts  on  social  media  platforms,  podcasts,  and  apps  for carrying  content  referred  to  in  section  69A  of  IT  Act,  2000  from December, 2021 to till date.

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.

(f)  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  organization  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.

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