19th century concepts are not valid any more.
Freedom of the media is still a valid concern, but that needs to be weighed against the rising concern about freedom FROM the media.
Media is no longer weak; it has the ability to cause havoc.
 

 I cannot believe that in this age and time in world history,  in any of the free societies in the world where people know and appreciate what democracy is about, anybody could get away with making remarks like the ones retd. justice Katju has made. Such  remarks are not just a potential attack on  our media, these strike at the very foundations  of democracy as well. But in India, sab chalta hai. Because, thanks to our extremely high levels of illteracy and economic backwardnrss,  99.9 % of Indian voters wouldn't know what or who know the Press Commission and Justice Katju are, what the latter has said and what it means, etc. So, In India, sab chalega. 

I agree with  Marudhamuthu's comment above  that Mr Katju is a throwback to the Emergency. That the UPA have made him the Press Commission's chairman is proof of the lingering presence of the authoritarian tendencies in that party.

 Knowledge and information have been jealously controlled and kept hidden in our country from time immemorial. Justice Katju cannot blame the corporate houses for this tradition. The rise of the private sector in the domain of the media is a recent matter. No doubt any abusive control and misuse of the media have to be tackled. But Justice Katju happens to be severely judgmental in his views. He seems to be a chilly throwback to the days of the Emergency and his words sound ominously similar to the way Indira Gandhi used to posture. Control and guidance of the media by any group of persons or by the state will be intolerable even if such a control is instituted in the name of promoting scientific temper and national interests. Some serious mischief seems to be afoot. Let us be forewarned by how the Chinese government is treating the media there. 

And Lata .... "what is the point" - enlighten us. What he said is motherhood and apple pie type stuff. Absolutely nothing new or enlightening that is not already known but anyone with faculties to think independently. Media comes as a whole package ..... people have to decide for themselves. As Anwaar pointed out ..... the American approach to media is correct.

Most times when I read Mr. Katju, I am left wondering that he was a Judge. Always makes me realize wisdom and so different from education or being a judge. It might be present in the lowest of the low and might be missing in the highest of the high. I hope in his time at least he interpreted the law dispassionately without personal biases. 

Lecturing the media on what issues they should pursue is a waste of time, although prestigious awards such as the Pulitzer and the Peabody probably have had a positive effect in the U.S. on both the selection of subjects and elevation of standards.

All talk of legislating restrictions on the press is dangerous. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution set the standard for the world when it said, "Congress shall make no law .... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

He should be in charge off Kim's North Korean media 

 He is confused. He better realize that it is because of free media this crap is published. 

He has a point.

He has a point.

 He is confused. He better realize that it is because of free media this crap is published. 

He should be in charge off Kim's North Korean media 

Lecturing the media on what issues they should pursue is a waste of time, although prestigious awards such as the Pulitzer and the Peabody probably have had a positive effect in the U.S. on both the selection of subjects and elevation of standards.

All talk of legislating restrictions on the press is dangerous. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution set the standard for the world when it said, "Congress shall make no law .... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press."

And Lata .... "what is the point" - enlighten us. What he said is motherhood and apple pie type stuff. Absolutely nothing new or enlightening that is not already known but anyone with faculties to think independently. Media comes as a whole package ..... people have to decide for themselves. As Anwaar pointed out ..... the American approach to media is correct.

Most times when I read Mr. Katju, I am left wondering that he was a Judge. Always makes me realize wisdom and so different from education or being a judge. It might be present in the lowest of the low and might be missing in the highest of the high. I hope in his time at least he interpreted the law dispassionately without personal biases. 

 Knowledge and information have been jealously controlled and kept hidden in our country from time immemorial. Justice Katju cannot blame the corporate houses for this tradition. The rise of the private sector in the domain of the media is a recent matter. No doubt any abusive control and misuse of the media have to be tackled. But Justice Katju happens to be severely judgmental in his views. He seems to be a chilly throwback to the days of the Emergency and his words sound ominously similar to the way Indira Gandhi used to posture. Control and guidance of the media by any group of persons or by the state will be intolerable even if such a control is instituted in the name of promoting scientific temper and national interests. Some serious mischief seems to be afoot. Let us be forewarned by how the Chinese government is treating the media there. 

 I cannot believe that in this age and time in world history,  in any of the free societies in the world where people know and appreciate what democracy is about, anybody could get away with making remarks like the ones retd. justice Katju has made. Such  remarks are not just a potential attack on  our media, these strike at the very foundations  of democracy as well. But in India, sab chalta hai. Because, thanks to our extremely high levels of illteracy and economic backwardnrss,  99.9 % of Indian voters wouldn't know what or who know the Press Commission and Justice Katju are, what the latter has said and what it means, etc. So, In India, sab chalega. 

I agree with  Marudhamuthu's comment above  that Mr Katju is a throwback to the Emergency. That the UPA have made him the Press Commission's chairman is proof of the lingering presence of the authoritarian tendencies in that party.

19th century concepts are not valid any more.
Freedom of the media is still a valid concern, but that needs to be weighed against the rising concern about freedom FROM the media.
Media is no longer weak; it has the ability to cause havoc.