The jury headed by former Chief Justice of India A S Anand chose the newspaper for the award for an exclusive report by Prabhjot Singh on the loot of Punjab's public transport by powerful politicians and bureaucrats, leading to huge burden on the people of Punjab, the India Chapter of International Press Institute (IPI) said in a statement here.
The other members of the jury are IPI-India Chairman and The Hindu Director N Ravi, PTI Editor-in-Chief M K Razdan, Business Standard Chairman and Chief Editor T N Ninan and Malayala Manorama Senior Assistant Editor Riyad Mathew.
The jury commended that the investigation published in five parts by the newspaper is an example of "crusading journalism" in the cause of large public interest.
The award, which carries a cash prize of Rs two lakh, a trophy and citation, will be presented at a function in New Delhi by the first week of February next year.
IPI-India had instituted the annual award in 2003 to recognise and honour the best work done by an Indian media organisation or journalist working in print, radio, television and internet media, in furtherance of public interest, including safeguarding of freedom of press and other freedoms such as human rights.
Last year, the award was given jointly to 'Tehelka' for its expose of the 'rent a riot' tactics of Sriram Sene in Karnataka and 'The Week' for its sustained investigation into the sham medical and dental colleges which had no doctors, no patients and no facilities but were permitted to run medical colleges.
In 2010, 'Tehelka' was selected for the award for its expose of execution of an innocent bystander by security forces in Manipur, the statement said.
The India Chapter of IPI is an active forum of editors, publishers and senior executives of newspapers, magazines and news agencies, all whom are members of the IPI.
