(a) whether several cases of attacks on journalists have come to the notice of the Government;
(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of such cases reported during the last three years and the current year so far, State-wise; and
(c) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to curb such incidents?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING ((COL RAJYAVARDHAN RATHORE (Retd.))
(a) & (b):National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), an attached office of M/o Home Affairs, has started collection of data under `attack on media` through Monthly Crime Statistics since January, 2014. The provisional State/UT wise data regarding cases registered under `attack on media persons` during 2014 is annexed. Prior to this, the specific data regarding attack on media was not centrally maintained.
(c) ‘Police’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and therefore, the State Governments are primarily responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and also for prosecuting the accused or criminals involved, under the extant and applicable laws, through the machinery of their law enforcement agencies. The State Governments are, therefore, primarily responsible for ensuring protection of the life and property of all citizens including media personnel and journalists within their respective jurisdiction. The Union Government therefore does not have any direct role in the matter.
The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued a comprehensive advisory on Prevention, Registration, Investigation and Prosecution of Crime to all State Governments and UT Administrations on 16th July, 2010.
The Press Council of India, a statutory autonomous body set up under the Press Council Act, 1978 with one of its objectives to uphold the freedom of press has also taken cognizance suo moto of incidents of attacks on media persons. The Chairman, PCI has also requested the concerned State Governments to take steps to ensure safety of the journalists while discharging their duties.