No FIR against scribes: SC asks lawyer to file representation before govt

The Supreme Court Tuesday asked a Mumbai-based lawyer to make a representation before the Centre on his plea that no FIR should be lodged against journalists for publishing and telecasting news unless sanction has been granted by Press Council of India (PCI) or any other judicial authority.

The apex court was hearing a plea which claimed that no provision has been enacted to protect freedom of press from “frivolous and malicious prosecution” and there is a need to lay down some guidelines.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde heard through video-conferencing the plea filed by advocate Ghanshyam Upadhyay, who claimed that some news channels are being targeted and a number of FIRs are being lodged in different states to snub their voices and to prevent them from awakening the citizens from nefarious and dangerous activities of “anti-social, anti-national persons (sic)”.