Towards a Responsible Press

Towards a Responsible Press

By C. Rajagopalachari

Summary

This Government of India (Publications Division) volume collects C. Rajagopalachari’s parliamentary speeches, delivered as Union Home Minister in September-October 1951, on the Press (Objectionable Matter) Bill, 1951. In the rendered pages, the booklet opens with the Bill’s Statement of Objects and Reasons — which presents the measure as fulfilling a promise made during the First Amendment debates to replace the ‘objectionable features’ of the Press (Emergency Powers) Act, 1931 with a law in consonance with the new Constitution — and then moves into Rajaji’s principal speech introducing the Bill.

In the rendered pages Rajagopalachari frames the Bill as an attempt to curb only proven, repeated abuses of press freedom — incitement to violence, sabotage, and grossly scurrilous, indecent, or obscene matter — rather than to impose pre-censorship. He stresses procedural safeguards: no action in anticipation, security demanded only after a judicial authority (a sessions judge) finds actual abuse following a full trial, the right to trial by a special jury drawn from those experienced in journalism or public affairs, and a right of appeal. He repeatedly insists that the body of responsible journalists has nothing to fear and that the aim is a ‘responsible press’. In his closing remarks in the rendered pages he reflects candidly on the difficulty of defining obscenity, and moves that the House refer the Bill to a large and representative Select Committee.

Because only the front matter and the opening speech were rendered (about 20 of 125 pages), this summary reflects only that portion; the remaining parliamentary speeches, replies to debate, and the full Bill text were not seen.

Key points

• Government of India Publications Division volume collecting Rajaji’s 1951 parliamentary speeches as Home Minister on the Press (Objectionable Matter) Bill.

• In the rendered pages the Bill is framed as replacing the objectionable Press (Emergency Powers) Act, 1931 in line with the new Constitution.

• Rajaji argues, in the rendered pages, that the Bill targets only proven, repeated abuses — not pre-censorship.

• He emphasises judicial safeguards: action only after a sessions judge finds actual abuse following a full trial, with appeal.

• He proposes trial by a special jury experienced in journalism or public affairs.

• He concedes the genuine difficulty of defining ‘obscene’ or ‘scurrilous’ matter.

• He moves to refer the Bill to a large, representative Select Committee.

• Coverage caveat: only ~16% of the work (front matter and opening speech) was rendered.

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