[New Delhi]PCI Can’t Issue Arrest Warrant Against Retiring I&B Secy Arora:Govt
Press Council and I&B Loggerheads Over Arrest Warrant Against Secy Arora .
Govt Has Challenged PCI Powers
The Press Council of India(PCI) and the Government were at loggerheads over the issue of the media body’s powers after it decided to serve a bailable arrest warrant against Union I and B Ministry Secretary Sunil Arora for failing to appear before it following summons.
Information and Broadcasting Ministry sources said today that the PCI has “limited powers” and cannot decide everything unlike the judiciary, which is an independent institution recognised by the Constitution, days after the Council took a decision to issue the arrest warrant.
PCI Chairman Justice(retd) C K Prasad, however, said that the Council was of the “prima facie” view that it does have the powers to issue such a warrant.
At the same time, he said the Council is willing to listen to I and B Ministry’s contention in this regard.
The unanimous decision to secure Arora’s attendance before the Council at its next scheduled meeting here on April 22 was taken by its members at their meeting on April 11 under the Chairmanship of Prasad.
The PCI on March 17 had decided to institute a suo motu inquiry into the “continued apathy” of the I and B Ministry towards the activities of the Council particularly at its efforts to preserve the freedom of the press and its mandate under the Press Council Act and directed its Secretary to appear before it on April 11. Arora is due to retire on April 30.