New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Terming the Meghalaya High Court's order in a contempt case against The Shillong Times, including its editor and publisher, as 'vulnerable on many counts', the Press council of India on Wednesday said that the conviction of an editor would have an adverse impact on freedom of the Press.
In a statement here, chairman of the Press council of India justice C K Prasad, noting that the editor is filing an appeal in the Supreme court against the order of conviction, said that the council would file an application for impleadment in such an appeal and, if allowed, submit that in the facts of the present case, conviction was not called for.
'I have gone through the judgment of the Meghalaya High Court, convicting the Editor and publisher of Shilling Times for contempt.
With profound respect in my opinion The judgment is vulnerable on many counts. The Hon'ble judge ought to have kept in mind that by making unnecessary observations, he had thrust the office of the judge in front of the firing line,' Justice Prasad said.
'The primary duty of the council is to preserve the freedom of the press and conviction of an editor shall surely have adverse impact on their freedom,' he said.
Noting that the editor is filing an appeal in the Supreme Court against the order of conviction, Justice Prasad said, ' Council to file an application for impleadment in such an appeal and, if allowed, submit that in the facts of the present case, conviction was not called for.
Mr Anshuman Ashok, Advocate on record be approached for the purpose immediately. '
The Meghalaya High Court Friday held The Shillong Times editor Patricia Mukhim and publisher Shoba Chaudhuri guilty in a contempt case and fined them Rs 2 lakh each.
The contempt case relates to an article published by the paper on the perks and facilities for retired judges and their families.
UNI AR JW2320