Kota Bureau and Ajir Batori censured for violation of norms of journalistic conduct

No. PR/ 21 /2004-05                                                                      Dated: 11.5.2004


           The Press Council of India which met in New Delhi on May 6, 2004 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice K. Jayachandra Reddy, Chairman, Press Council of India  censured Kota Bureau and Ajir Batori for breaching the norms of journalistic  conduct.

          Shri Kalu Ram Arya of Indragarh in his complaint to the Council alleged that the editor of ‘Kota Bureau’ published a false and defamatory news item against his daughter and when he refused to pay Rs.5000/- to the respondent as demanded the latter repeated  the said impugned item in the next issue of the paper. The Council did not accept the defence of the  respondent that particulars of  the girl were not given in the news items. It noted that particulars of  the complainant and his wife were  given  and Kota  being a small town, any reader  could  easily identify the girl. According to the Council the news reports  had the  tendency to affect the reputation of the family, particularly  the concerned girl. It observed that the press should realize its responsibility to the society  due to its unique  position by being able to command directly with the citizenary and utilise its advantageous  position for the betterment of the society and the advancement of the country rather than indulging in giving credence to rumours. Further, it is also necessary that the press, particularly the small  local press learn to appreciate the clear  distinction  between matters of “public interest”  and “those  in public interest”. In the opinion of the Council  the impugned news reports were published recklessly solely with the motive to blackmail  the complainant. While upholding the complaint, the Council observed that the complainant can file a suit for defamation, if he so desires.

          Shri Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, former Chief Minister of Assam in his complaint to the Council alleged that Ajir Batori published an unverified, false, misleading and defamatory news item. It was reported that the complainant was involved in secret killings and that he  discussed the settlement of militant problem through secret  killings. In the absence of any written or oral submission, the Council noted that the impugned report   contained serious  allegations touching national interest  of  creating violence and secret  killings in the State against the complainant and based apparently on a  report which was still a confidential document and the respondent had failed to file any statement  to show that the report was correct and bonafide  and had some basis. The Council, therefore, decided  to uphold  the complaint.