MIB OBJECTS INFRINGEMENT ON TITLE PRESS COUNCIL BY ORGANISATIONS

Panjim, October 16, 2024

Aswina 24, 1946

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has raised strong objection on the instances of the usage of term ‘Press Council’ by other press organisations in the country which infriged unique domain and title of the ‘Press Council of India’.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has stated that the Press Council of India is a statutory body set up under the Press Council Act 1978’ with twin objectives of preserving the freedom of press and maintaining, improving the standards of newspapers and the news agencies in India.

It is informed that, usage of the term ‘Press Council’ by other press organisations has not only eroded the institutional value of the Press Council of India but also infringes upon the unique domain and title of the Press Council of India.

The Secretariat of the Press Council is located at Soochna Bhavan, Lodhi road, New Delhi, it has neither any State branch nor authorised / constituted any other body with similar or same name to function on its behalf.

It is further stated that, the Department of Legal Affairs has opined that such usage of the term ‘Press Council’ by any other organisation without permisssion of Central Government, is in violation of the section 3 read with entry 7 (ii) of the emblem and names ( prevention of improper use) Act, 1950.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has requested State Governments to prohibit / rectify the registration of any local or Government association / body using the name ‘Press Council’ or its Hindi equivalent “Bhartiya Press Parishad”.

DIP/NB/AXP/SF/PN/2024/702.