Up to Rs. 50,000 fine, three years in jail for attacking journalists

Mumbai – In a significant development for the safety of journalists and media institutions in the State, the Maharashtra Legislature yesterday approved “Maharashtra Media Persons and Media Institutions (prevention of violence and damage or loss to property) Bill 2017.” Attack on journalist has been made a non-bailable offence in the Bill.

The Bill envisages three-year of jail term and penalty up to Rs. 50,000 or both for the offenders for the act of violence against media persons or damage or loss to the property of media persons or media institutions. Besides, offenders shall be liable to pay compensation for damage or loss of the property as well as liable to reimburse medical expenditure incurred by the journalist.

The Bill defines a media person as someone whose principal vocation is that of a journalist and who is employed either on regular or contract basis. However, it does not include those who are employed in a managerial or administrative capacity. It also has a provision that any offence against a media person will be investigated by a Police officer above the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.

The Bill covers reporters, correspondents, editor, news editors, sub-editors, feature writers, proof readers, copy testers, cartoonists and photojournalists from all registered newspapers, print and online, news channels, news-based electronic media and news station establishment. Various branches and centres including printing press would be treated as parts of media houses.

Misuse to be tackled: Journalists or media organisations wilfully misusing this Legislation would be booked under the same Act. Moreover, media persons convicted under the Act shall not be entitled to any Government benefit as a media person, and will lose their accreditation.

Last year, at least 122 journalists and media professionals were killed across the world. Of them, 93 lost their lives because of targeted killings and others in accidents or natural disasters.

During the same year, India saw death of five journalists and was eighth in the list which was topped by Iraq, a report said.