Central law to protect journalists on the anvil

A law drafted by the Maharashtra government on the subject proposes to make attacks on journalists a non-bailable offence.

With the Bombay High Court as well as journalists across the country seeking answers in the case pertaining to the murder of journalist J Dey,the Centre on Thursday said it had already started working on a draft Bill aimed at protecting journalists as well as their property such as cameras.

Among other things,the still-to-be-drafted law could have a provision for fast track courts to deal with crimes against journalists so as to ensure that justice in such cases is delivered without much delay.

A law drafted by the Maharashtra government on the subject proposes to make attacks on journalists a non-bailable offence.

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Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily on Thursday said that he has asked the Legislative Department to prepare a draft Bill to protect journalists and their properties. Deys murder is a matter of grave concern. We need to have a sense of security among journalists, he said. He added that Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had spoken to him recently on the issue. I am also in touch with Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on the issue, he said,adding better equipped forensic labs and policemen with better investigative skills were needed.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister had on Wednesday said there was a broad consensus in the state Cabinet on a law to protect journalists,but an enabling provision needed to be included in it to address complaints against the media as well.