MEDIA LAWS UNIT: 1

MEDIA LAWS - AN INTRODUCTION

LESSON STRUCTURE:
This lesson shall provide an introduction to the various media laws in India. We shall start with the
provisions for freedom for media in the Constitution of India and reasonable restrictions as
imposed by the Constitution. Finally, we shall try to understand the various laws related to
media in India. The lesson structure shall be as follows:
1.0 Objectives
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Presentation of Content
1.2.1 Constitutional Provisions for Freedom of Media in India
1.2.2 Reasonable Restrictions as Imposed by the Constitution
1.2.3 Major Laws related to Media in India
1.3 Summary
1.4 Key Words
1.5 Self-Assessment-Questions (SAQs)
1.6 References/Suggested Reading

1.0 OBJECTIVES:
The objectives of this lesson are as follows:
o To Know About the Constitutional Provisions for Freedom of Media in India
o To Know About the Reasonable Restrictions as Imposed by the Constitution
o To Know About the Major Laws related to Media in India
1.1 INTRODUCTION:
There are many laws that regulate the performance of media in India. Laws related to the mass
media have been there since the very beginning. In the time of the British Raj, many laws related
to the Press were enacted. In the post-Independence time, the various Governments have
enacted many more media related laws. Some of these media related laws are:
o First Press Regulations, Gagging Act,
o Indian Press Act,
o Vernacular Press Act,
o Constitutional Provisions regarding Press Freedom,
o Official Secrets Act,
o Press and Registration of Books Act,
o Sea Customs Act Contempt of Court,
o Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act,
o Parliamentary Proceedings Act,
o Delivery of Books and Newspapers Act Copyright Act,
o Defense of India Ac,
o Press Council of India Act,
o Police Act,
o Drugs and Magic Remedies Act,
o Cable Television Regulation Act, Right to Information.

Some of these laws are directly related to mass media. Some of these are only indirectly related
to the mass media. Most of these laws are still prevalent. But a few of these laws have been
abolished. Some laws have been changed to suit the changing times. We shall discuss about
most of these laws in this lesson.

1.2 PRESENTATION OF CONTENT:

Media of mass communication are very important part of the modern society. They are also very
powerful systems that influence the society. At a certain level media influences the present and
can also influence the future of the society. Mass media have the power to make or unmake
governments.
So it is clear that mass media are quite powerful. But the exercise of power by the media
gets regulated and controlled by the various laws and rules enacted from time to time.
 In a democratic society media enjoy more powers and face less restrictions and
regulations. In an authoritarian form of governance, the working of the media is restricted and
controlled to a great extent. Sometimes media in autocracies or under military rule are not all free.
In India, the situation is a mixed one. The mass media enjoy certain freedom. But the
Constitution imposes certain reasonable restrictions. Then there are laws that regulate the
functioning of mass media in India. Media laws in India have a long history right from the British
rule. The Government enacted several rules and regulations in India to perpetuate in rule. After
independence, more laws have been enacted and the old ones amended r the benefit of the
society.
Some of the laws that regulate the performance of media in India are mentioned below. A
few of the laws will be discussed in detail in other lessons.
The content of this lesson is presented as under:
o Constitutional Provisions for Freedom of Media in India
o Reasonable Restrictions as Imposed by the Constitution
o Major Laws related to Media in India

1.2.1 CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS FOR FREEDOM OF MEDIA:

The Indian Constitution does not provide freedom for media separately. But there is an indirect
provision for media freedom. It gets derived from Article 19(1) (a). This Article guarantees freedom
of speech and expression. The freedom of mass media is derived indirectly from this Article.
Our Constitution also lays down some restrictions in the form of Article 19(2).
Regarding the issue of freedom of speech, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar explained the position as
follows:
"The press (or the mass media) has no special right which are not to be given to or which
are not to be exercised by the citizen in his individual capacity. The editor of a Press or the
manager are all citizens and, therefore, when they choose to represent any newspapers,
they are merely exercising their right of expression and in my judgement no special mention
is necessary of the freedom of Press at all."

On the matter of the freedom of speech and expression, the first Press Commission in its report
said,
 "This freedom is stated in wide terms and includes not only freedom of speech which
manifests itself by oral utterances, but freedom of expression, whether such expression is
communicated by written word or printed matter. Thus, freedom of the press particularly
of newspapers and periodicals is a species of which the freedom of expression is a genus.
There can, therefore, be no doubt that freedom of the press is included in the fundamental
right of the freedom of expression guaranteed to the citizens under Article 19(1) (a) of the
Indian Constitution."

Justice Mudholkar, a Supreme Court Judge said during Emergency (1975-77),

"Pre-censorship, prohibition on import of printed and published material, placing a ban on
printing and publishing material of a specified nature, demanding security from the press
or placing any restriction which would amount to an indirect curb on free circulation of a
newspaper or class of newspaper should confine itself have all been held to be bad in law."

Article 19 of the Indian constitution lays down,

"All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, to assemble
peaceably, and without arms, to form associations or unions, to move freely throughout the
territory of India, to reside in any part of the territory of India, to acquire hold and dispose
of property and to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
However the right to freedom of speech and expression shall not affect the operation of
any existing law or prevent the state from making any law insofar as such law imposes
reasonable restrictions on the exercise of that right in the interests of the sovereignty and
integrity of India, the security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states, public
decency or morality or In relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to offence”.

Thus the type of freedom of expression guaranteed to the American Citizen does not exist in
India but that he is liable to "reasonable restrictions.

1.2.2 REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON MEDIA:

It is strange, unique and paradoxical that what is provided as a right by our Constitution on the
one hand is taken away by some sub-clause in the same situation. Mr. M. C. Chagla has given
a general reply to this paradox, which may be put in the following ways:
It has been said that our Constitution gives fundamental rights with one hand, and with
other hand takes them away. It is also said that, our Constitution circumscribes the given rights
by numerable exceptions and provisions. This is a very wrong criticism.
Article 19 of our Constitution deals with the right to freedom and it enumerates certain rights
regarding individual freedom of speech and expression etc. These provisions are important and
vital, which lie at the very root of liberty.
It is true that in the sub-clauses that follow, certain limitations are placed upon these
freedoms with regard to freedom of speech and expression. In addition, there are many laws that
relate to libel, slander, defamation, contempt of court, or any matter which offends against
decency or morality or which undermines the security of, or tends to overthrow the State.
It can be seen that these limitations are related to the objective standards laid down by the
Constitution. Similarly, the legislature is given the right to impose reasonable restrictions in the
interest of public order on the right to assemble peaceably and without arms. Whether a restriction
is reasonable or not is not left to the determination of the legislature, and of the executive. But it
is again an objective consideration, which has got to be determined by theCourt of law. Only
such a restriction would be reasonable as the Court thinks as reasonable.
It is clear therefore that the Constitution has not left the laws to the mercy of the party in
power or to the whims of the executive. No one is allowed to limit, control or impair our
fundamental rights by changing, amending, or introducing new laws that easily. Any limitation of
a fundamental right has to before a Court of law.
Legislatures, indeed, have been empowered to impose reasonable restrictions on freedom
of speech and expressions on the following grounds:
o Integrity of India,
o Security of the State,
o Friendly Relations with neighboring Countries,
o Public order,
o Decency or morality,
o Contempt of Court and Contempt of Legislature,
o Defamation, and
o Incitement to an offence.
By and large the necessity for imposing "reasonable restrictions" by the legislature has not been
seriously challenged by the newspaper world (and media world) where matters of state security
or the integrity of India are concerned. And where the superior judiciary is concerned, Justice
Mudholkar has remarked, there has been a long tradition of non-interference with the freedom of
the press (and other mass media) except where newspaper was found guilty of contempt of court.
Thus, it is evident that the freedom conferred by Article 19 (1) (a) in fairly general terms. It
does not for example, even refer specifically to the freedom of the Press (or mass media) as is
envisaged in the corresponding provision in the American Constitution.
Judicial decisions have, however, affirmed that Article 19 (1) is sufficiently wide to include
the freedom of the Press and implicitly, the freedom of other mass media.
In addition to the provisions mentioned above, there are several important laws, which a
media person must know. We shall discuss some of these now.

1.2.3 MAJOR MEDIA LAWS IN INDIA:

Some of the major laws related to mass media in India include the following:
o First Press Regulations,
o Gagging Act,
o Indian Press Act,
o Vernacular Press Act,
o Constitutional Provisions regarding Press Freedom,
o Official Secrets Act,
o Press and Registration of Books Act,
o Sea Customs Act,
o Contempt of Court Act,
o Young Persons (Harmful Publications) Act,
o Parliamentary Proceedings Act,
o Delivery of Books and Newspapers Act,
o Copyright Act,
o Defense of India Act,
o Press Council of India Act,
o Police Act,
o Drugs and Magic Remedies Act,
o Cable Television Regulation Act,
 o Right to Information Act.

FIRST PRESS REGULATIONS, 1799:

On 13th May 1799, Lord Wellesley promulgated the First Press Regulations. According to these
regulations it was mandatory for the newspapers to print the names and addresses of printers,
editors and publishers. However, these regulations were abolished during the administration of
Warren Hastings in 1813.

GAGGING ACT, 1857:

In 1857, a law was enacted known as the "Gagging Act". This Act introduced mandatory licensing
for running or owning a printing press. It empowered the Government to prohibit the publication
or circulation of any newspaper, book or any printed matter. It allowed the Government to ban the
publications or dissemination of statements or news stories, which had a tendency to cause hatred
or contempt for the Government, incite disaffection or unlawfulresistance to its orders or weaken
its lawful authority. The Act was, however, abolished in June 1858.

VERNACULAR PRESS ACT, 1878:

This Act was enacted on March 1, 1878. This Act empowered the then British Government to
exercise more stringent control over publications in the Indian languages. Under this Act, any
District Magistrate or Police Commissioner could demand security from the printer and publisher
of a newspaper, forfeit such security or confiscate any printed matter considered objectionable
in the interest of the British Government.

INDIAN PRESS ACT, 1910:

Under this Act, owners of presses were required to tender security deposits. These securities
were to be forfeited if they printed any objectionable matter. In addition, the police was given
extensive powers of search and seizure. The harshness of the legislation was matched by
vigorous enforcement of its provisions. The British Government, between 1910 and 1914,initiated
no fewer than 355 cases.

OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT, 1923:

This is an act, which consolidates the law relating to official secrets, and deals with offences like
spying and wrongful communication of secret information.
Section 3 of the Act makes it an offence if any person for any purpose prejudiced to the
public safety and the interests of the state:
o Approaches, inspects, passes over or is in the vicinity of or enters any prohibited place,
o Makes any sketch, plan, model or note which is calculated to be or-might be or is
intended to be directly or indirectly useful to an enemy, or
o Obtains, collects, records or publishes or communicates to any person such sketch, etc.
In a prosecution for an offence punishable under Section 3(1) of the Act, with imprisonment for a
term which may extend to 14 years.

THE PRESS AND REGISTRATION OF BOOKS ACT, 1867:

This Act was enacted with a view to evaluating the present position of books, newspapers, and
magazines in the country at any given time. The most important aspect of this Act is that every
copy of a newspaper shall contain the names of the owner, publisher, and editor printed clearly
on all the copies. The printer of every newspaper is required to deliver to the State Government
free of expense two copies of each issue of the newspaper as soon as it is published. Failure to
do so is treated as an offence.

SEA CUSTOMS ACT, 1878:

Section 8 (c) of the Act prohibits the bringing into India whether by land, or by sea "any obscene
book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation, figure or article." These items can be
confiscated.

CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT:

Contempt of Court is one of the reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2) of the Indian
Constitution. This Act was enacted for the first time in the year 1952. Later on this was again
enacted in 1971, which was further amended in 1976.

YOUNG PERSON'S (HARMFUL PUBLICATIONS) ACT, 1956:

This Act seeks to prohibit the publication in India of such literature as glorifies crime, violence or
vice.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS (PROTECTION OF PUBLICATION) ACT, 1956:

This Act was enacted with a view to protecting the publications of reports of proceedings of
Parliament except in newspapers. Section 3 of the Act states that no person shall be liable to any
proceedings, civil or criminal in any court, in respect of the publication in a newspaper of
substantially true report of any proceedings of either House of Parliament, unless the publication
is proved to have made with malice.

DELIVERY OF BOOKS AND NEWSPAPERS (PUBLIC LIBRARIES) ACT, 1954:

This Act enjoins upon the publisher of every newspaper to deliver at his own expense one copy
of each issue of such newspaper as soon as it is published to each public library as may be
notified by the Central Government. Contravention of any provision of this Act becomes
punishable.

COPYRIGHT ACT, 1957:

Section 52 of this Act lays down that certain acts shall not constitute an infringement ofCopyright,
such as fair use, fair quotation, bonafide abridgements and the like.

DEFENSE OF INDIA ACT, 1962:

According to Justice Mudholkar, "upon the declaration of emergency, the Parliament will be
empowered to make laws affecting the freedom of the Press. It is as if the freedom of media
disappears in a situation of emergency. Any law made by the Parliament, under a situation of
emergency, cannot be challenged on the ground of legislative incompetence for as long as
emergency lasts. Citizens cannot claim any protection under Article 19.
Further, clause 7 of section 3 of the Defense of India Act deals with the entire gamut of
printing and publishing of any newspaper or book and the imposition of Censorship.

PRESS COUNCIL OF INDIA ACT, 1965:

The Press Council of India, according to the preamble to the Press Council of India Act, is
established:
"For protecting the freedom of the press and maintaining and improving the standards of
both newspapers and news agencies”
M.V. Kamath once pointed out that it is important to remember that the Press Council of India is
not a Court of Law. It is a Court of Honour. Its verdicts are not judicial pronouncements. Therefore,
there is no question of punishment imposed on an offending journalist or newspaper.
 By that same token the Council cannot award damages to the aggrieved party. As justice
Mudholkar put it, "The only weapon in the armory of the Press Council of India is moral authority”.
The sole strength of the Council lies in its appeal to conscience.
The power conferred by section 13 (1 A) requiring a newspaper to publish therein any
particulars relating to any enquiry under section 13 does not mean that it has any power to punish
a defaulting paper.
The experience of the British Press Council has shown that this power, if properly used
and constantly exercised, can become extremely effective. The public rebuke that the Council
administers and the moral obligation of the offending newspaper to publish its decisions operates
both as a penalty and a deterrent.
The Press Council of India Act, 1965 was later amended on 31st March 1970. The
Council's term which expired in December, 1975 was not extended during the Emergency again
the Press Council's Act was revised in 1978 which was more or less on the same lines as the
Press Council Act, 1965.

POLICE (INCITEMENT TO DISAFFECTION) ACT, 1972:

This Act penalizes any act, which causes or is likely to cause disaffection toward the Government
among the member of the police force or which induces or attempts to induce any member of the
police force to withhold his services or to commit a breach of discipline.

DRUGS AND MAGIC REMEDIES (OBJECTIONABLE ADVERTISEMENT) ACT, 1954:

The Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisement) Act, 1954 was enacted to control
wrong practices in the advertisement of drugs. In certain cases, this Act is meant to prohibit the
advertisement for certain drugs for matters connected therewith.
Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of the Drugs and Magic Remedies Act
is punishable by the Act. It takes two forms such as:
o In the case of a first conviction, with imprisonment may extend up to six months or with fine
or with both.
o In the case of a subsequent conviction, with imprisonment may extend to one year or with fine
or with both (Section 7 of the Act).

CABLE TELEVISION REGULATION ACT, 1995:

This is one of the most recent Acts. According to this Act:
o No person shall operate a cable television network unless he is registered as a cable operator
under this Act.
o No person shall transmit or re-transmit through a cable service any programme unless such
programme is in conformity with the prescribed programme code.
o Every cable operator using a dish antenna or "Television Receiver only" shall, from the
commencement of this Act, re-transmit at least two Doordarshan Channels of his choice
through the cable service. Moreover, the Doordarshan Channels referred to in sub section
(1) shall be retransmitted without any deletion or alteration of any programme transmitted on
such channels.

Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act shall be punishable as under:
o For the first offence, with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to two years or with fine,
which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.
o For every subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to five years
and with fine, which may extend to five thousand rupees.

RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT:

Noted political analyst James Michael has pointed out in his pioneering book The Politics of
Secrecy that, "freedom of information" and "right to information" are two different concepts.
"Freedom" implies the absence of restraint, particularly of legal penalties. Thus, "freedom of
information" means a citizen is free to receive and impart information without fear of punishment.
However, there is no obligation on the State to provide any information to the citizen.
The right to information is indispensable for free flow of information. But there was a
massive wall in the shape of the Official Secrets Act in India. The official Secrets Act was a
hindrance to the flow of information. Hence, there was an urgent need to thoroughly examine the
Official Secrets Act.
Through out the last two decades, the demand for the enactment of a Right to Information
Act gained momentum. It was felt that right to information, as a fundamental legal right, is
necessary to bring about the much-needed transparency in the system.
This sort of right was also viewed as a necessary measure to remove corruption from public
and administrative life. Barrier to information is known to be the single largest factor behind
corruption as it facilitates arbitrary decisions, clandestine deals, embezzlements and
manipulation of all kinds. If information is made a right, people will be able to ask inconvenient
questions from those whose conduct is either suspicions or not above board.
As we are ushering into the 21st century, our life styles and values are changing.Therefore,
we should continue changing our approach and attitudes and shake off the old mentalities that
has impediments in our evolution as a modern and democratic society.
One school of thought in the media' world strongly felt that the crusade for right to
information will be the best contribution to the evolution of such a modern democratic and forward-
looking society.
But there was another school of thought still feels that Official Secrets Act has its own
importance from the point of view of maintaining efficiency in the Government.
The Press Commission opined that secrecy in bureaucracy, which arose out of functional
necessity, as a means to achieving organizational efficiency-has become an end in itself from
effective outside control.
The Commission's attempt to establish a balance between an open Government and the
need of keeping secret certain affairs of State was laudable. But it had a negative attitude of
showing a slavish weakness for the British model.
The Commission had noted that the question of amending Section 5 of the Official Secrets
Act has been considered by various committees and commissions and the general opinion has
been that, since the Act has been administered in a sensible manner, there being few
prosecutions under the law, no modifications in the Act are warranted. Section 5 of the Official
Secrets Act lays down:
o If any person having in his possession or control any secret official code or pass word or any
sketch, plan, model, article, note, document or information which relates to anything in such
a place or which is likely to assist, directly or indirectly, an enemy or which relates to a matter
the disclosure of which is likely to affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of
the State or friendly relations with foreign States or which has been made or obtained in
contravention of this Act, or which has been entrusted in confidence to him by any person
holding office under Government or which he has obtained or to which he has had access
owning to his position as a person who holds or has held office under Government, or as a
person who holds or has held a contract made on behalf of Government, or as a person who
is or has been employed under a person who holds or has held such an office or contract.
o Willfully communicates the code or pass word, sketch, plan, model, article, note, document
or information to any person other than a person to whom he is authorized to communicate
 it, or a Court of Justice of a person to whom it is in the interests of the State, his duty to
communicate it; or
o Uses the information in his possession for the benefit of any foreign power or any other manner
prejudicial to the safety of the State; or
o Retains the sketch, plan, model, article, note or document in his possession or control when
he has no right to retain it, or when it is contrary to his duty to retain it or willfully fails to comply
with all directions issued by lawful authority with regard to the return or disposal thereof; or
o Fails to take reasonable care of or so conducts himself as to endanger the safety of the sketch,
plan, model, article, note document, secret official code or pass word or information, he shall
be guilty of an offence under this section.

The Commission recommends that more liberal Act must replace this section. Where the
commission goes wrong is in suggesting that the provisions of the British Information Bill should
serve as a model for India.
As regards access to information, the Commission has mentioned in a paragraph that
Sweden was the first to legislate on the subject open Government being part of the Constitution.
Denmark, Finland, The USA, Austria and France have laws on the subject. Austria has formed a
Bill and so has Canada.
Mr. Justice P. N. Bhagwati has further held that the concept of an open Government is the
emanation from the right to know which seems to be implicit in the right of free speech and
expression.
Thus many a legal battles were fought before the right to information became a reality in
this country.
Finally the Right to Information Act was enacted in October 2005.
The Indian Right to Information Act was introduced to the Indian Parliament in July 2000.
It came into effect on 12 Oct 2005. Under this law the information has become a fundamental right
of the citizen. Under this law all Government Bodies or Government funded agencies have to
designate a Public Information officer (PIO). The PIO's responsibility is to ensure that information
requested is disclosed to the petitioner within 30 days or within 48 hours in case of information
concerning the life and liberty of a person. The law was inspired by previous legislations from
select states (among them Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka, Delhi etc) that allowed
the right to information (to different degrees) to citizens about activities of any State Government
body.
A number of high profile disclosures revealed corruption in various government schemes
such scams in Public Distribution Systems (ration stores), disaster relief, construction of highways
etc. The law itself has been hailed as a landmark in India's drive towards more openness and
accountability.
However the RTI India has certain weaknesses that hamper implementation. There have
been questions on the lack speedy appeal to non-compliance to requests. The lack of a central
PIO makes it difficult to pin-point the correct PIO to approach for requests. The PIO being an
officer of the Govt. institution may have a vested interest in disclosing damaging information on
activities of his/her Institution, This therefore creates a conflict of interest. In the state of
Maharastra it was estimated that only 30% of the requests are actually realized under the
Maharastra Right to Information act. The law also bares disclosure of information that affects
national security, defence, and other matters that are deemed of national interest.

1.3 SUMMARY:
o Mass media are quite powerful. But the exercise of power by the media gets regulated and
controlled by the various laws and rules enacted from time to time. In a democratic society
media enjoy more powers and face less restrictions and regulations. In an authoritarian form
of governance, the working of the media is restricted and controlled to a great extent.
Sometimes media in autocracies or under military rule are not all free.
o In India, the situation is a mixed one. The mass media enjoy certain freedom. But the
Constitution imposes certain reasonable restrictions. Then there are laws that regulate the
functioning of mass media in India. Media laws in India have a long history right from the British
rule. The Government enacted several rules and regulations in India to perpetuate in rule.
After independence, more laws have been enacted and the old ones amended r the benefit of
the society.
o The Indian Constitution does not provide freedom for media separately. But there is an indirect
provision for media freedom. It gets derived from Article 19(1) (a). This Article guarantees
freedom of speech and expression. The freedom of mass media is derived indirectly from this
Article. Our Constitution also lays down some restrictions in the form of Article 19(2).
o The press (or the mass media) has no special right, which are not to be given to, or which
 are not to be exercised by the citizen in his individual capacity. The editors of a Press or the
managers are all citizens and, therefore, when they choose to represent any newspapers, they
are merely exercising their right of expression.
o Article 19 of the Indian constitution lays down, "All citizens shall have the right to freedom of
speech and expression, to assemble peaceably, and without arms, to form associations or
unions, to move freely throughout the territory of India, to reside in any part of the territory of
India, to acquire hold and dispose of property and to practice any profession or to carry on any
occupation, trade or business.

1.4 KEY WORDS:

Media Laws: Mass media, like any other organization, like to work in absolute freedom. The
United States of America allows for explicit freedom for the media in its Constitution. But in most
other countries, there is a situation of freedom and reasonable restrictions. In a few countries,
there is no freedom for the mass media. But all countries have a wide variety of media related
laws.
Reasonable Restrictions: Most countries realize that absolute freedom for media may not be a
good idea. So certain reasonable restrictions are put on the media. These restrictions are with
regard to morality, decency, defamation, security of the State, relationship with friendly countries,
incitement to offence, communal harmony, etc.
Official Secrets: Every nation or country has certain secrets. These could be in the sphere of
national security or related fields. But many countries try to put a wide variety of information as
official secrets. And laws or Acts related to official secrets try to protect such information.
Registration of newspapers and Books: The Government always want to know which all
newspapers and books are being published at any given time. So Acts like Registration of
Newspapers and Books Act are enacted to keep track of all such publications.

1.5 SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS (SAQs):

1. What do you mean by Media Laws? Discuss briefly five most important media laws.
2. Why are media laws required? Discuss the importance of media laws.
3. What do you mean by Right to Information? Do you think, it should be made a
fundamental right?
4. Do you think Official Secrets Act is a hindrance in the free flow of information? Discuss it.
5. Briefly introduce the different laws of both print media and electronic media.
1.6 REFERENCES / SUGGESTED READING:
 Basu, Durga Das (1996) - "Law of the Press published by prentice Hall of India Private
Limited, New Delhi.
 Bhanawat, Sanjeev (L993) - Press Kanoon aur Patrakarita, published by Sidhashri
Prakashan, Jaipur.
 "Media Problems and Prospects (1983)" published by National Media Centre.
 Rayudu, C.S. (1993) - "Media and Communication Management" published by Himalaya
Published House, New Delhi.
 COMMUNICATOR (VOL. XXXXI, NO. 28, APRIL - JUNE 1996) published by the Indian
Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi.