Parliament should not impose guidelines to Sting Journalists

Bangalore, Apr 28 (UNI) Renowned Journalist and Tehelka Editor-in-Chief Tarun Tejpal today took exception to a proposal by the Parliament to introduce guidelines for Sting Journalists in the country.

Delivering Keynote Address at the 12th National Journalism Conference organised by Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) here, he said that "self regulation is needed to Journalists to promoting national integration and for a healthy democracy. But regulating Sting Journalism as proposed by the Parliament is not correct." Mr Tejpal said that Sting Journalism should be in public interest and not individual. Sting Journalism had become a set up now and not aimed at curbing crime, he added.

Karnataka Lok Ayukta Justice Venkatachala, in his address, said that Sting Journalism was not very difficult unless it jumped its guards and got caught. It could not become subject of controversy or attract provisions of the Contempt Act, he added.

He said that Journalists should also expose misdeeds. " I wish Journalists take courage and expose misdeeds and not be afraid of attracting the provisions of Contempt act against them. But exposing truth should be the weapon of Journalists and public should not suffer", he added.

Justice Venkatachala said that of the total 130 Sub-Registrar offices he had inspected, officials in 127 had admitted to have collected bribe. " This was the status of corruption in the State in one Department, you can understand what may be the position in other Departments." He said that the country was all set to become a Developed one in the World but its achievements went down the drain if corruption was allowed to continue in the present rate.

UNI MSP SR RKN1436