Press Council of India (PCI)

Press Council of India (PCI)

Subject – Government Bodies

Context – PCI panel to probe ‘harassment’ of scribes

Concept –

• The Press Council of India was first set up in the year 1966 by the Parliament on the recommendations of the First Press Commission.
• Aim: To preserve the freedom of the press and maintain and improve the standards of the press in India.
• The present Council functions under the Press Council Act, 1978. It is a statutory, quasi-judicial authority functioning as a watchdog of the press, for the press and by the press.
• Composition: The PCI consists of a chairman and 28 other members.
  • The Chairman is selected by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and a member elected by the PCI.
• Powers: It adjudicates the complaints against and by the press for violation of ethics and for violation of the freedom of the press, respectively.
  • The Press Council of India is responsible for enquiring into complaints received.
  • It may summon witnesses and take evidence under oath, demand copies of public records to be submitted, even issue warnings and admonish the newspaper, news agency, editor or journalist.
  • Decisions of the PCI are final and cannot be appealed before a court of law.
• Limitations of PCI: 
  • They cannot penalize newspapers, news agencies, editors and journalists for violation of the guidelines.
  • The PCI only overviews the functioning of print media. It can enforce standards upon newspapers, journals, magazines and other forms of print media.
    • It does not have the power to review the functioning of electronic media like radio, television and internet media.