How to Make a Complain to Press Council of India?

Complaints Procedure

If you have a complaint against a newspaper, for any publication which you find objectionable and effects you personally, or non-publication of a material, you should first take it up with the editor or other representative of the publication concerned.

If the complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you may refer it to the Press Council of India. The complaint must be specific and in writing and should be filed/lodged within two months of the publication of impugned news item in case of dailies and weeklies and four months in all other cases, along with the original/photostat copy of the impugned clipping ( English translation if the matter is in vernacular ). You must state in what manner the publication/non publication of the matter is objectionable within the meaning of the Press Council Act, 1978 and enclose a copy of your letter to the editor, pointing out why you consider the matter objectionable. His reply thereto or published rejoinder, if any, may also be attached to it. Declaration stating that the matter is not pending in any court of law is also required to be filed.

If a newspaper or journalist is aggrieved by any action of any authority that may impinge on the freedom of the press, he can also file a complaint with the Council. The aggrieved newspaper or journalist may inform the Council about the possible reason for the action of the authorities against him i.e. if it is as a reprisal measure taken by the authorities due to critical writings or as a result of the policy that may effect the freedom of the press ( supporting documents, with English translation if they are in vernacular, should be filed ). Declaration regarding the non pendency of the matter in any court of law is also necessary.

On receipt of a complaint made to it or otherwise, if the Council is prima facie satisfied that the matter discloses sufficient ground for inquiry, it issues show cause notice to the respondents and then considers the matter through its Inquiry Committee on the basis of written and oral evidence tendered before it. If on inquiry, the Council has reason to believe that the respondent newspaper has violated journalistic norms, the Council keeping in view the gravity of the misconduct committed by the newspaper, warns, admonishes or censures the newspaper or disapproves the conduct of the editor or the journalist as the case may be. It may also direct the respondent newspaper to publish the contradiction of the complainant or a gist of the Council’s decision in its forthcoming issue.

Similarly, when the Council upholds the complaint of the aggrieved newspaper/journalist the Council directs the concerned government to take appropriate steps to redress the grievance of the complainant. The Council may, if it considers necessary , make such observations, as it may think fit, in any of its decisions or reports, respecting the conduct of any authority, including Government.


Complaints Against the Press

The requirements of Regulation 3 of the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations, 1979 to be fulfilled by a complainant while lodging a complaint against a newspaper, news agency, editor or a journalist.

i) Furnish original clipping(s) of the impugned news item/article/editorial etc. (English translation, if the matter is in any language other than English is essential for all the Council members who hail from all over the country to appreciate the contents of the impugned material).

ii) Specify in what manner the publication/non-publication of the matter is objectionable.

iii) Write to the editor of the newspaper concerned regarding the matter published/not published in the newspaper etc., which in your opinion is objectionable giving your rejoinder thereto with a request for its publication.

iv) Furnish a copy of the reply, if any, received from the newspaper and/or the rejoinder published.

v) Subscribe to a declaration in the enclosed format regarding non-pendency of the subject matter in any court of law.

vi) Intimate the reasons for delay in filing the complaint, if any (time limit for dailies and weeklies is 2 months and for other periodicals is 4 months from the date of publication).

vii) Furnish complete address of the respondent-newspaper.


Complaints by the Press

The requirements of Regulation 3 of the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations, 1979 to be fulfilled by a complainant while lodging a complaint against an individual, authority including government(s).

1. Give statement how the action/inaction of the respondent(s)/authorities amounts to curtailment of the freedom of the press.

2. The possible reason for the action/inaction of the respondent.

3. If it is a reprisal measure for writings in your newspaper, critical of the respondent, kindly furnish the original clippings (English translation, if in any language other than English is essential for all the Council members who hail from all over the country to appreciate the contents of the impugned material).

4. Draw the attention of the respondent towards your grievance and furnish a copy of the letter written to the respondent along with the reply, if any.

5. Give complete particulars of the respondent(s) viz. Name, Designation and Complete Address.

6. Furnish the declaration in the enclosed form regarding non-pendency of subject matter in any court of law.

Address your complaints or inquiries to :

The Secretary,
Press Council of India,
Soochna Bhavan, 8-C.G.O. Complex,
Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003
Email : pci@alpha.nic.in, pcids@vsnl.net
Ph: 011-24366746, 24366405

Source: http://presscouncil.nic.in/

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