Intolerance towards media on rise: Ram

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Editor-in-chief of The Hindu N. Ram today said that intolerance towards the
press had grown in recent years across the country, especially in Tamil
Nadu. "This is clear from increased number of defamation cases filed against
journalists. There are more than 100 defamation cases against journalists in
Tamil Nadu alone", he told a meet-the press programme. Indian press enjoyed
a freedom that was enviable by the standard of developing world, Ram said
adding that this freedom flowed from Article 19 of the Constitution and had
been put on a pedestal by judicial interpretation. However, "some of the
so-called reasonable restrictions have become unreasonable and illiberal in
practice", Ram said. Pointing out that there was a need to "modify" the laws
regarding breach of privilege and contempt of court, he said "assertion of
sky high powers of privilege by some legislature bodies have been used
against the press to create a chilling effect on investigative journalism".

Source:
PTI