No.PR/7/06-07-PCI Dated. 11.8.2006

PRESS RELEASE

Outstanding arrears of Rs.337.43 lacs to be recovered from defaulting newspapers.

The Press Council of India established as a statutory autonomous, quasi-judicial body for the purpose of preserving the freedom of press and of maintaining and improving standards of newspapers & news-agencies in India has expressed its deep concern over the failure of due from various categories of registered newspapers/periodicals to remit the outstanding fee of Rs.337.43 lacs payable to the Press Council . Where as Section 16(1) of the Act empowers the Council to levy such fee and such rates and in such manner as may be prescribed from registered newspapers/periodicals/news-agencies having regard to their circulation and other matters, Rule 10 of the Press Council prescribes a range of fees levied on them as a statutory obligation.

Section 16(2) provides for recovery of the outstanding levy as arrears of land revenue. Financial year 2005-06 records that a sum of Rs.337.43 lac is outstanding from various categories of newspapers /periodicals. As the aforesaid source of revenue is vital to the functioning of the council, it is necessary that all concerned should pay their dues. The detail are available on the Council’s website http://presscouncil.nic.in