ABSTRACT
The presenter at this session was Mr Inder Jit, a former journalist and at the time of writing a member of Lok Sabha, the lower House of the Parliament of India. His presentation centred on two aspects: the importance of a free press and the vital role it plays in a democratic society; and the extent to which the press has failed to meet its responsibilities in recent years. He described the press as the principal link of communication between parlia ment and the people and essential to the success of a parliamentary democ racy. Ideally, it might be seen as an extension, or an ally, of the parliament, each complementing and supplementing the other in protecting essential freedoms. ‘Each would be a lame duck without the other, as shown by India’s experience during the emergency of 1975-77 when all fundamental rights, including the right to life and the freedom of expression, were sus pended.’ During this period the press were forbidden to report parliamentary proceedings without government approval. He himself was denied access to the press gallery and only pro-government journalists were accredited.