Former SC judge CK Prasad appointed as Chairman of Press Council India

Government has appointed former Supreme Court Judge CK Prasad as Chairman of Press Council of India (PCI) for the second term. His nomination was approved by a three-member committee headed by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu. He was earlier appointed to post in November 2014 after Justice Markanday Katju stepped down.

The Press Council is a statutory, quasi-judicial body which acts as a watchdog of the press. It adjudicates the complaints against and by the press for violation of ethics and for violation of the freedom of the press respectively. It derives its mandate from Press Council Act 1978.

It consists of a Chairman and 28 other members. Of the 28 members, 13 represent the working journalists. Of whom 6 are to be editors of newspapers and remaining 7(2members missing) are to be working journalists other than editors. 6 are to be from among persons who own or carry on the business of management of newspapers. One is to be from among the persons who manage news agencies. Three are to be persons having special knowledge or practical experience in respect of education and science, law and literature and culture. The remaining five are to Members of Parliament: three from Lok Sabha, and two from Rajya Sabha. The members serve on the Council for a term of three years. The Council was last reconstituted on 22 May 2001. And now again the present Chairman is Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad.

Picture Credit: LiveLaw.in