"I respectfully disagree with what Justice Katju is saying. He is not right when he says that there has to be a statutory regulation of the electronic media and the print media, I completely disagree with him," Justice (retd) Shah said here.
"Another problem with Justice Katju's suggestion is that he feels that all power should be with the Press Council, his body should control everything. See there is an inherent danger in conferring all powers on one authority," Shah told reporters.
He said that there was a need to have checks and balances. Speaking further, Shah said that the BCCC which is a self regulatory body of television channels was doing a good job and all its directions were complied with by member channels.
IBF chairperson Manjit Singh, while speaking on the sidelines of the conference, said the body was focusing on the creation of a Broadcasting Audience Research Council (BARC) to measure TV ratings and a plan to have an establishment study conducted for it was underway.
Actress-activist Shabana Azmi said, "Freedom of speech and expression, especially artistic freedom, is very important and a democratic right. This freedom, however, comes with responsibility, and this is where BCCC plays an important role.
"At BCCC, we hear the channels when serious complaints come before us. We are happy to say that there has been full compliance of the BCCC's directives by the member channels."
