Federation of Press Clubs seek free legal aid for journalists

The Federation of Press Clubs has called for a structured system of free legal aid for journalists, particularly independent reporters and those without the backing of established media organisations. The federation discussed the proposal at its governing council meeting during the Bharatiya Patrakarita Mahotsav, held in Indore from October 2 to 4. The federation also examined the role of regional and language media in protecting free speech.

Federation president Gautam Lahiri said journalists reporting on issues affecting ordinary people should have access to legal assistance when they face challenges arising from their professional work.

He said Rajshree Rai, editor-in-chief of APN Channel and associated with India Legal, had offered support for the initiative. Pradeep Rai, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, also welcomed the proposal, Lahiri added.

Journalists Amarkant Chauhan and Shashikant Goel from Bhind shared their experiences of ground-level reporting and spoke about support received from the Press Club of India and the Madhya Pradesh State Press Club, including assistance in accessing legal aid. The cases they referred to are sub judice.

The session also highlighted the contribution of regional media to public discourse. Snehashish Sur, president of the Kolkata Press Club, said print journalism continued to have a strong presence in India, with language newspapers remaining closely connected to local communities.

Praveen Kumar Khariwal, president of the Madhya Pradesh State Press Club, stressed the role of Hindi journalism in bringing public concerns into the spotlight.

Women journalists Shaheen Khan and Nafisa Khan of 4PM News Network discussed the challenges women encounter while reporting from the ground.

Veteran journalist Shravan Garg, former national editor of Dainik Bhaskar, said journalism must remain committed to facts and truth, without bias or political motivation.

President of the Chandigarh Press Club and secretary general of the Federation of Press Clubs, Saurabh Duggal, said press clubs played an important role in protecting journalists’ rights, particularly as independent and ground-level reporting faced growing challenges.

Sharing details about the event, he said the Federation of Press Clubs is a collective of eight founding press clubs. The proposed legal-aid mechanism aims to strengthen support for journalists without institutional backing who may struggle to afford legal proceedings, he added.

The initiative seeks to ensure that journalists can report on public issues without fear and with access to appropriate legal support, Duggal said.