The Crossbill News Desk
The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued a show-cause notice to The Caravan magazine concerning its story titled "Screams from the Army Post," which had earlier been removed following an order from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B).
In response, The Caravan filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, challenging the ministry's directive.
According to The Caravan's statement, dated October 15, the PCI's notice pertains to an article published both online and in the February edition of the magazine.
The Caravan piece detailed allegations of torture by Indian Army personnel in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir on December 22, 2023, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of three civilians due to injuries sustained.
“On 1 October, The Caravan received a show-cause notice from the Press Council of India regarding the story Screams from the Army Post. The story, published online and in our February issue of the magazine, is about the torture of numerous civilians by Indian Army personnel in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 December 2023, in which three persons died as a result of their injuries,” the magazine statement read.
The Caravan further noted that the Ministry of I&B had lodged its complaint with the PCI on March 5, after the magazine had already taken down the article and its related URLs. The statement expressed dismay at the PCI’s decision to issue the notice seven months later, arguing that a simple review would have revealed that the ministry's actions constituted censorship and an infringement on press freedom.
“We are shocked at the PCI’s decision to issue a show-cause notice to us seven months later, where a basic assessment of the complaint would have made clear the MIB’s actions against The Caravan constitutes an act of censorship and the suppression of press freedom. Further, the show cause notice has been issued beyond the period of forty-five days stipulated under Regulation 5 of the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations and is therefore barred by limitation,” the statement said.
The Caravan also criticized the PCI for failing to fulfil its mandate to protect press freedom and public interest.
“The PCI’s mandate is to protect the freedom of press, and to uphold its right to bring forward stories that are in the interest of the public good. By sending us this show-cause notice, and slapping on alleged violations of norms that do not seem applicable to the report in the first place, the PCI has failed its mandate,” the statement added.
In its statement, the magazine affirmed its support for the article and stood by its reporting.
In response, The Caravan filed a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, challenging the ministry's directive.
According to The Caravan's statement, dated October 15, the PCI's notice pertains to an article published both online and in the February edition of the magazine.
The Caravan piece detailed allegations of torture by Indian Army personnel in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir on December 22, 2023, which allegedly resulted in the deaths of three civilians due to injuries sustained.
“On 1 October, The Caravan received a show-cause notice from the Press Council of India regarding the story Screams from the Army Post. The story, published online and in our February issue of the magazine, is about the torture of numerous civilians by Indian Army personnel in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir on 22 December 2023, in which three persons died as a result of their injuries,” the magazine statement read.
The Caravan further noted that the Ministry of I&B had lodged its complaint with the PCI on March 5, after the magazine had already taken down the article and its related URLs. The statement expressed dismay at the PCI’s decision to issue the notice seven months later, arguing that a simple review would have revealed that the ministry's actions constituted censorship and an infringement on press freedom.
“We are shocked at the PCI’s decision to issue a show-cause notice to us seven months later, where a basic assessment of the complaint would have made clear the MIB’s actions against The Caravan constitutes an act of censorship and the suppression of press freedom. Further, the show cause notice has been issued beyond the period of forty-five days stipulated under Regulation 5 of the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations and is therefore barred by limitation,” the statement said.
The Caravan also criticized the PCI for failing to fulfil its mandate to protect press freedom and public interest.
“The PCI’s mandate is to protect the freedom of press, and to uphold its right to bring forward stories that are in the interest of the public good. By sending us this show-cause notice, and slapping on alleged violations of norms that do not seem applicable to the report in the first place, the PCI has failed its mandate,” the statement added.
In its statement, the magazine affirmed its support for the article and stood by its reporting.
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