[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.
Tag: Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Sunil Arora
PCI Can’t Issue Arrest Warrant Against Retiring I&B Secy Arora:Govt
Press Council To Slap Arrest Warrant On Retiring I&B Secretary Arora
[New Delhi]Press Council To Slap Arrest Warrant On Retiring I&B Secretary Arora
The Press Council of India (PCI) has decided to serve a bailable arrest warrant against Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Sunil Arora over his non-appearance before Council on Monday following a summons issued to him.
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 Monday under the Chairmanship of Justice(retd) C K 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 retiring on April 30.
Prasad said the Council received a communication from Arora today in which he said he was not present here to receive the notices as he was out of the country and that he would appear before it.
Arora at the same time requested the Council to consider a change in the date for his appearance.
The I and B Secretary’s communication is being examined by the Council, Prasad said, even as some members suggested that the warrant be kept under abeyance.
A PCI member said since Arora did not turn up on April 11, the members present unanimously brought out a resolution that a bailable warrant may be issued and the authorities concerned be informed.
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