Chhattisgarh Assembly passes bill for protection of media persons, CM calls it a historic day

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh Assembly on Wednesday passed Chhattisgarh Protection of Media Persons Bill 2023, which aims to protect journalist in the state.

Talking to media persons, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said “today is a historic day for the Chhattisgarh Assembly and Chhattisgarh as the Chhattisgarh Protection of Media Persons Bill 2023 has not only been presented in the Assembly but has also been passed. Media persons who risk their lives by going to the interior areas to bring news are very courageous, and many of them write articles that put themselves and their families in danger.”

He added that along with financial loss, there is also a possibility of loss of life. In such a situation, all our journalists, whether they are from electronic media, print media, or new portal who work in the office or in the village, whose accrediation card is not available, have been brought under the ambit of this protection law. If the press says that the person is working with us and those who have written three articles or stories in it within six months, such people have been brought under the ambit of the law, so that they can be protected.

Chief minister said that under the chairmanship of retired Justice Aftab Alam of the Supreme Court, a drafting committee was formed. Its members included retired Justice Anjana Prakash, senior advocate of the High Court Rajuram Chandran, senior journalist late Lalit Surjan, Prakash Dubey, my advisor Ruchir Garg, the Advocate General, and the Principal Secretary of the Law Department, and the Director General of Police. This committee held several meetings in the state and in Delhi, and after discussions with various organizations, the draft was prepared and handed over to the department. After a long deliberation by the department, it was made into a bill.