Journalists kept out as Press Council gets chairperson

By Nava Thakuria* 

After months of uncertainty, the Press Council of India (PCI) has got its chairman, with Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai assuming charge on 24 April 2026. The retired judge of the Supreme Court of India, nominated for a second term of three years, earlier served as PCI chairperson from 17 June 2022 to 16 December 2025. However, the quotas for working journalists remain vacant, as seven members to represent professional journalists (other than editors) and six members to represent journalist-editors are yet to be selected to complete the 15th Council.

Notably, two months ago, Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra urged the Union government in New Delhi to complete the current Press Council to safeguard democratic principles and strengthen media accountability. Speaking in the Upper House of Parliament on 10 February, the Biju Janata Dal leader asserted that constituting a full-fledged council after the term of the 14th Council expired on 5 October 2024 was necessary for a free, fair and responsible press. Patra specifically emphasised the appointment of a new chairperson, as the PCI had remained headless since 17 December last year, to pave the way for completing the Council of the statutory, quasi-judicial and autonomous body.

Currently, the PCI has functioning members including Sudhanshu Trivedi and Brij Lal (Rajya Sabha members); Sambit Patra, Naresh Mhaske and Kali Charan Munda (Lok Sabha members); Ashwini K. Mohapatra (University Grants Commission); Manan Kumar Mishra (Bar Council of India); K. Sreenivasarao (Sahitya Akademi); and Sudhir Kumar Panda, M.V. Shreyams Kumar, Gurinder Singh, Arun Kumar Tripathi, Braj Mohan Sharma and Arti Tripathi (representing owners or management of newspapers across categories). Efforts continue to fill the remaining 14 seats, even as various hurdles have emerged in recent months.

The 29-member media watchdog, initially set up in 1966 under the Press Council Act, 1965, and later re-established in 1979 under the Press Council Act, 1978, aims to improve the standards of newspapers and news agencies in the country. It is mandated to include 13 representatives of professional journalists—six editors and seven working journalists—but these seats remain vacant. In recent months, several media organisations have demanded the revitalisation of the PCI with enhanced powers.

The crisis began when several national journalist bodies opposed proposed changes to PCI rules that would allow members to be selected from various press clubs instead of recognised national unions of working journalists. Some organisations approached the courts, complicating the situation further. They argue that press clubs are largely recreational bodies with limited regional scope and often include non-working journalists—such as academicians, writers, film personalities and diplomats—thus raising concerns about their ability to represent professional media personnel effectively. In contrast, recognised journalist unions typically comprise members from across the country.

As the PCI remained headless for months—reportedly for the first time in its history—questions arose about who was overseeing India’s vast print media sector, which includes over 100,000 publications registered with the Registrar of Newspapers for India across multiple languages and periodicities. The PCI is empowered to receive complaints against newspapers, news agencies, editors and working journalists for professional misconduct affecting journalistic standards. However, it has limited authority to enforce its guidelines or impose penalties.

Beyond print, India also has nearly 400 satellite news channels and millions of digital platforms, including online portals and messaging-based media. These, however, remain outside the PCI’s jurisdiction. While the PCI can comment on government conduct when it affects press freedom, there is a growing demand to expand its mandate to include television, radio and digital media, along with strengthening its enforcement powers.

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*Journalist based in Assam