SHILLONG: Journalists in Meghalaya under the banner of the Shillong Press Club on Tuesday decided to move the Press Council of India and other higher authorities to seek intervention into the recent ruling of the High Court of Meghalaya which restrained the media from publicizing announcement by organizations calling bandhs, strike, hartals and road blockade and also holding of rallies.
“We have unanimously decided to move the Press Council of India and other higher authorities available against the high court ruling which will have a greater ramification in the role and functions of the media in a democratic state,” Shillong Press Club president David Laitphlang said.
While respecting the high court’s order, the press fraternity felt that such a blanket order tantamount to a gag order thereby restricting the press from discharging its sworn duty of disseminating information to citizens of the state.
While several high courts have deemed bandhs as illegal yet none have banned the media from publishing such announcements.
