"The Press Council of India, which met here for two days and heard complaints including a sedition charge against a cartoonist, found that the circular was improper. The definition of sedition is quite clear in legal provisions and a High Court order has further clarified what does not include sedition," Justice Prasad told reporters here.
However, he said that though the Press Council has taken suo motu cognisance of the matter, it is sub-judice and hence declined to elaborate further, adding that the Maharashtra government must clarify.
Justice Prasad said that the Press Council had taken note of the live telecast of the commando operation against the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, which would have helped terrorist handlers in foreign countries.
The Press Council found that it is out of sheer enthusiasm that private television news channels telecast army operations live, especially since it was unprecedented and the first occasion of such a nature, he said.
He said that though the electronic media is not covered by the jurisdiction of the Press Council, it has recommended the government to set a media council.