In an unprecedented move, the Press Council of India (PCI) has decided to issue a bailable arrest warrant against Union Information & Broadcasting Ministry Secretary Sunil Arora over his non-appearance before it on Monday following summons issued to him. The PCI, headed by Justice (Retd) CK Prasad, directed Arora to appear before it on April 22.
The PCI on March 17 had decided to institute a suo motu inquiry into the “continued apathy” of the I&B Ministry towards the activities of the Council particularly at its efforts to preserve the freedom of the Press and its mandate under the Press Council Act and directed its Secretary to appear before it on April 11. Arora is retiring on April 30.
The Council has addressed several communications to I & B Ministry on various issues concerning the functioning of the Council but received no satisfactory response, several PCI members said. Prasad said several issues had to be discussed and the Council had issued notices to the Secretary on this matter as is the practice.