The Press Council of India (PCI) on Thursday said the Maharashtra government's notice on sedition charges was against the spirit of a High Court order, as it sought to know the reasons behind the move.
The Press Council of India (PCI) on Thursday said the Maharashtra government's notice on sedition charges was against the spirit of a High Court order, as it sought to know the reasons behind the move.
PCI Chairman Justice (retd) Chandramauli Kumar Prasad has asked the Maharashtra government to "furnish the reason, circumstance and necessity of issuing the circulars so as to reach the Council within two weeks."
The circular containing guidelines to police by the Maharashtra government with regard to invocation of IPC Section (124-A), says sedition clause can be invoked against "whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representation, is critical of politicians, elected representatives belonging to the government." However, the section will not be invoked against those trying to bring change in government through legal means without hatred and contempt, it said.
In a statement released here, the PCI said prima facie, the circulars do not reflect the observations of the Bombay High Court in its true spirit.
"I am, prima facie, further of the opinion that the words and expressions used in the circulars are possible to be misconstrued and misunderstood, which shall have the potential of encroaching upon the freedom of the press," Prasad said .
The PCI statement said the Bombay HC while disposing of a Criminal Public Interest Litigation by order dated March 17, 2015 recorded the undertaking given by the Advocate General of Maharashtra that Home Department will issue guidelines in the form of a circular to all police personnel.
From the tenor of the order, the PCI said in its statement, that it is evident that the same was to protect the citizens from unnecessary harassment.
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