Legal shield for scribes, writers, singers on anvil

The Maharashtra state government has decided to bring actors, writers, singers and other professionals from the creative field in the gamut of a special act proposed to protect journalists from attacks. The government announced a six-member committee to study various aspects related to the proposal and submit its report in next three weeks.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday set up the panel headed by industries minister Narayan Rane to review the draft of the bill meant to protect journalists from attacks. “The committee will work on the basis of terms of references that include recommendations on having redressal forum for complaints against journalists on the lines of Press Council of India. It will also review the action by the committee set up in 1991 to take note of the attacks on journalists,” Chavan said.

The CM said that taking the note from the discussion with the editors of the national publications last week, the government has decided to bring other professionals from the creative fields in the gamut of the bill. He said the committee will submit its report before the monsoon session, which will start on July 25.

The demand for a special law to protect journalists gain ground after the murder of senior journalist J Dey on June 11.