Editors Guild to pitch for changes in Contempt law

New Delhi, Dec 5 (UNI) The Ediors Guild of India has decided to launch a campaign for changes in the Contempt of Court Act as, it said, under the existing law the suo moto prosecution of mediapersons by the judiciary was casting a shadow on the freedom of the press.

The Editors top body would approach Members of Parliament and also try to organise a dialogue with judiciary to pursue a legislaion making only normal laws applicable for any proceedings against mediapersons for reporting about courts and judges.

These decisions were taken at a meeting of the Guild held here this week, its secretray general K S Sachidananda Murthy said in a release today.

The meeting expressed its shock over the conviction of four journalists of Mid Day newspaper on the charge of bringing judiciary into disrepute, without actually verifying whether the contents of the news were true or not.

The appeal of the four journalists is pending before the Supreme Court.

UNI