Press Council censures Punjab Kesari, five others

New Delhi, Oct 18 (UNI) Hindi daily Punjab Kesari published from Delhi is among six papers censured by the Press Council of India for flouting journalistic ethics and misusing the press freedom.

At its meeting at Guwahati this month, the PCI adjudicated 44 cases of complaints against the press and 11 cases of complaints by the press against the authorities.

Besides Punjab Kesari, it has also found Asomiya Pratidin, Janasadharan and Purvanchal Prahri published from Guwahati, Dainik Prajashakti, Bilaspur and State Times, published from jammu guilty of unethical journalism.

The PCI found these papers having published defamatory and baseless reports against the complainants without caring to obtain their version either at pre or post-publication stage.

The council in a release here said it had even directed for filing a complaint against Punjab Keasari with the Delhi Police for inquiry and action against the paper for filing forged documents before the Council.

It said the newspaper denied right of reply to complainant Mrs Atul Sharma, secretray 'Sankalp Shiksha Prasar Samiti' Meerut, and filed forged affidavits and letters for getting the matter closed.

UNI