Outlook India : PCI Moves SC Against Media Gag on Troop Movement
PTI | New Delhi | May 01, 2012
 

With due respect to PCI Chairman Markandey Katju,one gets the impression that he has not been consistent in his concern for protecting the fundamental right of the Fourth Estate.His conviction seems to be  misplaced.

Will he answer what public interest was involved in publishing  the story by the mainstream media about the troops movement to Delhi ? The story merely generated sensationalism .It looked as though the army take-over was imminent.Preposterous,senseless and irresponsible reporting it was.

Consider the serious implications it had on the army's morale besides showing General V K Singh in poor light whose appeal was sub judice in Supreme court.Even the Raksha Mantri  seemed visibly perplexed while announcing that no action was called for in the troop movement episode.

Worse, the Indian Express that broke the story,took pride by not revealing the source of its input except that it was the kin of a serving union minister.The GOI did not order investigation by the IB or CBI into the leakage,ostensibly as the decision was not taken  by it but possibly by some extra-Constitutional authority.

Against this background, the PCI Chairman's decision to file an SLP in the Hon,ble Supreme court against the Allahabad High court's verdict, is not justified.

Incidentally, the PCI Chairman Markandey Katju does not seem to have expressed any opinion on the controversial verdict passed by the Delhi High court on the media gag in case of Abhishek Manu Singhvi's  alleged sex CD episode. Why is he so selective? He is expected to be totally non-partisan. Why is he participating in panel discussions on TV ? Does he represent the views of the entire PCI or his personal view or those of the power that be?

A K SAXENA  (A retired civil servant)

www.aksaxena.co.in