The issue of fake news has been a matter of intense debate. The arrest of Postcard news founder which was celebrated by some journalists and parties had opened a pandora’s box. The guidelines which were issued by the ministry of information and broadcasting yesterday were withdrawn today.
In the light of these developments, the chairman of PCI (press council of India), Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad has issued a statement/response to the fake news. He has said that there is nothing wrong in government taking initiatives to curb fake news provided that the authority to examine complaints and punish is given to an independent body like PCI.
He has defined fake news as ‘ news, story, information, data and reports which is or are wholly or partly false’.
The PCI chairman has also highlighted that complaint of fake news can file by an individual, government or any aggrieved person. The complaint would be dealt as per the procedure laid down in Press Council Act and Press Council (Procedure of Inquiry) regulations as per the chairman. ‘However, it is only in gross cases of fake news or repeated involvement in fake news dissemination that power to suspend or cancellation of the journalists be resorted to’, says the chairman’s statement.