May,18,2017:

Justice (retd) C K Prasad, Chairman Press Council of India has stated that,”Social media should be brought under ambit of media watchdog Press Council of India (PCI) because anything can be circulated world-over within seconds”.

“Social Media uses the “same alphabet” as print media, so why former should be excluded from PCI’s jurisdiction”he added.

“After intense debate, we have recommended to Government that jurisdiction of the PCI be expanded by including electronic media under its ambit and to change its name from ‘Press Council’ to ‘Media Council’,” he further added

“For constituting the Media Council, government needs to frame a law,” adding that as per his information, matter was under the Government’s consideration.

Justice (retd) C K Prasad stated that,”At present, PCI’s remit doesn’t cover electronic media, but media watchdog has passed a resolution to take cognisance of the attacks on the electronic media journalists”.

PCI, which held hearings in Indore over last two days, heard 47 cases, including assault on the photo-journalists outside the Tata Group headquarters in Mumbai, restrictions on the media on publishing news related to the Hyderabad Central University and attack on a  the journalist in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district.