-PTI Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday declined to comment on Press Council chairman Justice Markandey katju's statement that the press did not enjoy freedom in the state and was harassed if they wrote against the government. "I am not required to offer any comment," Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of the 87th foundation day of the Patna Medical College Hospital here. However, health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, who was also...

-The Hindustan Times   Press Council of Indian chairperson Markandey katju has warned the Uttar Pradesh government for violating press freedom in various ways and acting "arbitrarily and in a vindictive manner". Taking serious note of complaints from journalists in the state, katju has written in a letter to chief secretary, UP: “Many complaints have been coming from the state of Uttar Pradesh that press freedom is being violated in various ways e.g....

Even as “money-chasing” media persons and news organisations are coming up with innovative ways to hoodwink the Election Commission (EC) in its drive to seek out “paid news”, the authority has so far detected as many as 42 instances of alleged paid news in Uttar Pradesh where the Assembly polls are being held. Of these, notices have been served on 38 candidates — on whose favour the writing/telecast have been made...

-The Hindu   “The intent is clear. Keep the people drugged so they do not revolt against poverty” Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman Justice Markandey katju on Sunday called upon journalists to play a seminal role in promoting scientific and rational ideas in society and raise the intellectual level of the masses by extricating them from the morass of superstition, casteism, bigotry, communalism and feudal tendencies. Delivering the Jhabarmal Sharma memorial lecture here,...

Has the explosion of media in India been a mixed blessing? With more than 70,000 newspapers and over 500 satellite channels in several languages, Indians are seemingly spoilt for choice and diversity. India is already the biggest newspaper market in the world - over 100 million copies sold each day. Advertising revenues have soared. In the past two decades, the number of channels has grown from one - the dowdy state-owned broadcaster...