Darrang District Journalists’ Union (DDJU) in collaboration with the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA), Darrang of Assam has organized a journalists’ training cum conference on media laws at the conference hall of DLSA in Mangaldai on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion as a resource person Jayanta Kr Deka, a senior lawyer and a pass out of the Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Gauhati University discussed on different provisions of the law for media including relevant law on ‘sting operation’, role of the media controlling agencies, professional code of conduct for media persons like in other professions and latest unholy trend of media trials among others.
Referring to some examples including premature reporting in a section of media regarding the alleged involvement of a judge couple in the recent APSC cash for job case the speaker pointed out how such reporting may even affect a trial in the judiciary.
He also cited couple of cases of ‘sting operations’ which had both good and bad intentions.
V K Singh, Chief Judicial Magistrate and Lutfur Jaman, lecturer, Mangaldai Law College also spoke as the other resource persons. They threw light on some other aspects of the law and the media viz freedom of expression under Indian Constitution, right to privacy, copyright and RNI, Law on non-disclosure of identity of victims, defamation, contempt of court Act, relevant legal solutions pertaining to media (obscenity), bailable and non-bailable offences, regular bail and anticipatory bail and classification of courts.
The resource persons also gave replies to the queries raised by the participating media persons.
Earlier the session was inaugurated by Justice Satya Nath Sarma, member secretary, State Legal Services Authority, Assam.
In his inaugural speech he said that main goal of the judiciary and the media is same, that is deliver justice to the very last person of the country.
He also explained how media can play a pivotal role in sensitizing the citizens about the various government welfare schemes of providing free legal aid to them.
The session was also addressed by Mukul Chetia, member secretary, DLSA, Darrang, Pankaj Kr Nath, president, All Assam Journalists’ Union, senior journalists from Guwahati Prakash Mahanta and Pulin Kalita and president DDJU, Hemanta Kr Baruah among others.
The session which began with the explaining of the objectives by secretary DDJU, Mazibar Rahman was attended by many journalists across Darrang district including senior scribes Bhargab Kr Das, Atawur Rahman and Pawan Kr Jha among others.