-The Hindu   An interaction scheduled between Press Council of India chairman Justice Markandey Katju and journalists on Saturday was cancelled after disagreements on the format of the event. Justice Katju, who has been the focus of attention for his recent controversial comments on the quality of journalists and the Regulation of the news media, had agreed to make a speech at the Press Club, following which the floor was to be thrown...

Judges are fierce in using the word [“independence”] as a sword to take action in contempt against critics. But the word is also used as a shield to cover a multitude of sins, some venial and others not so venial. Any lawyer practising before a court will, I am sure, have a rather long list of these. I have chosen seven. The first is the sin of “brushing under the carpet”,...

—PTI Dismissive of the news broadcast industry's self-regulatory mechanism, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju has said if TV channels do not want to come under the PCI they should choose another body like the Lokpal. “Self-Regulation is no Regulation and news organisations are private bodies whose activities have a large influence on the public and they also must be answerable to the public,” he said. On Sunday, Justice Katju wrote...

All rural schemes will also get a common accounting format; audit to begin with MGNREGS in 12 states At a time when the government is reeling under a number of corruption cases—several of these following critical reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG)—the ministry of rural development has roped in the statutory auditor to conduct a financial, compliance and performance audit of its schemes. All schemes of the ministries...

It has to be but a means to development, not an end in itself Is India doing marvellously well, or is it failing terribly? Depending on whom you speak to, you could pick up either of those answers with some frequency. One story, very popular among a minority but a large enough group—of Indians who are doing very well (and among the media that cater largely to them)—runs something like...