The government insists India’s media is free and thriving. But when it comes to answering how exactly that freedom is being protected – especially in the face of falling press freedom rankings and rising attacks on journalists – it appears to get cagey. At least that’s what a Rajya Sabha reply on Monday suggests.

This, despite guidelines for specific and complete answers to questions in Parliament. In a memo dated January 20, the Rajya Sabha Secretariat had even reminded ministries of the procedure. The Secretariat noted that ministries “often do not answer each part of the question separately and clearly”. Attached to the memo was a reference to a similar direction by the Rajya Sabha Chairman in a past breach of privilege case where a ministry seemingly dodged a question. The manual of parliamentary affairs also stresses on the same.

Cut to August 1, and Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L Murugan’s generic response to a set of sharp queries in an unstarred question by RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha.

The MP had asked three specific questions on the issue of press freedom. Whether the government has undertaken any review to assess the decline in India’s press freedom rankings and the reported rise in intimidation, legal harassment and violence against journalists in recent years. Whether any steps have been taken to strengthen institutional mechanisms like the Press Council of India to protect press freedom from political interference. And the measures being planned to ensure that journalists can work without fear or pressure from government or political actors?

The response? Clubbed-together paragraphs labelled “(a) to (c)", lacking the specifics demanded by the question.

“India has a vibrant press and media ecosystem, which does not need validation from foreign organisations. India has about 1,54,000 printed publications, more than 900 private satellite TV channels and numerous publishers on digital media including OTT platforms, e-replica of newspapers, digital newspapers, news websites and news channels on social media platforms etc,” the minister’s response said.

It then said “India has constitutional guarantees like Article 19 (1)(a), which protects freedom of speech and expression, and then went on to list the “legal framework to protect journalists”.

“Freedom of speech and expression is protected under Article 19 of the Constitution. Press Council of India (PCI) is a statutory autonomous body set up under the Press Council Act, 1978. It is headed by a retired Judge of the Supreme Court and adjudicates on the complaints filed by the members of the press concerning curtailment of press freedom, physical assault/attack on journalists etc. Under Regulation 13 of the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations, 1979, the PCI is also mandated to take suo-motu cognizance on the pressing issues concerning freedom of press and safeguarding of its high standards. Freedom of press in electronic and digital media is also ensured through a self-regulatory mechanism under the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 and IT Rules, 2021. A 3 tier-structure is in place for addressing the complaints, with first level at the broadcaster/publisher level followed by the self-regulatory bodies at second level.”

This is not the first time the government has issued such a response after a question linked to press freedom.

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