Toofani Kaafala and Daomoh Ki Takat censured by Council

No. PR/ 20 /2004-05                                                                      Dated: 11.5.2004


 

 The Press Council of India which met at New Delhi on May 6, 2004 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice K. Jayachandra Reddy, Chairman, Press Council of India adjudicated upon 61 matters. It censured Toofani Kaafala and Damoh Ki Takat published from Bijnor (U.P.) and Damoh (M.P.) respectively for publication of defamatory, unverified news items using vulgar, loathsome and indecent language.

Shri Sudhir Kumar Dubey of Bijnor complained that Toofani Kaafala published defamatory news item casting aspersions on the character of his mother, wherein it was reported that the lady was having an affair with a doctor of the area. The Council after consideration of records of the case and written and oral arguments of the parties, refused to accept the plea of the respondent that the news item was published on complaints received from the local people and published without naming anybody. It opined that Bijnor being a small town, the readers could easily identify as to whom the news-pertained. It further observed that the impugned item had the tendency to defame the complainant, his mother and family members. It therefore, while upholding the complaint directed the respondent newspaper to publish apology in the paper. The Council further decided to send a copies of the adjudication to DAVP, RNI and concerned D.M. Bijnor respectively

for stoppage of government advertisements, checking the authenticity of registration and cancellation of declaration if provisions of PPB Act had been violated.

Dr. L.P. Rai, Civil Surgeon-cum-Chief Medical Superintendent, Damoh in his complaint to the Council alleged that the editor of ‘Damoh ki Takat’ published a series of false and defamatory news items between May 2001 to February 2002 against the doctors and nursing staff in general and the complainant in particular, even dragging his daughter’s name in the said items wherein the complainant was described as a debauch, characterless person who was negligent towards his duties. The Council was not convinced with the defence of the respondent-editor that the language used in the news-items were local dialects. It opined that the respondent had started a vilification campaign against the complainant and was indulging in yellow journalism and defaming the public servants by publishing unverified and defamatory news item, thereby grossly misusing columns of his newspaper. The Council further decided to send copies of the decision to DAVP, RNI and Collector, Damoh respectively for stoppage of issuance of Government advertisements and for necessary action under provisions of PRB Act, 1867.