HC seeks PCI reply on plea against use of word 'Dalit'

The Delhi High Court today sought the response of the Press Council of India (PCI) on a plea to restrain the media houses from using the word 'Dalit' in news articles, alleging it creates "inequality" in the society.
While going through the guideline of the PCI, a bench of acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Anu Malhotra said even the expression 'Scheduled Caste' is prohibited under the rules.
It asked the PCI, a statutory body that governs the conduct of the print media, to file an affidavit with regard to the averments raised in the petition.
The bench, meanwhile, granted more time to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to get instructions as to whether any circular has been issued by it prohibiting the usage of the word Dalit, which, according to the petitioner, is objectionable.

The matter was fixed for further hearing on September 19.
The court was hearing a plea by Prem Kumar Singh, who has sought a direction to the ministry and the press watchdog to take appropriate steps to ensure that the word may not be used "unnecessarily and unjustifiably" without any relevance of the same.

Referring to some news headlines which had used the expression Dalit, the petitioner said, "The legislature has made provisions to ensure no one may create any kind of hatred or animosity between the different communities or religions of the country, so that there may be a harmonious atmosphere in the society".

Aggrieved by the "excessive" use of words Dalit and 'upper caste', the plea has alleged that despite a law and guidelines in place, the media houses keep on raising the issue of Dalit atrocities unnecessarily.
"Crime is crime and can be committed against or by any community and thus cannot be treated on different footing as against the crime committed by or against the people of the general community, especially when there is involvement of Scheduled Caste people," the plea has said.
It has said that "this kind of differentiation was an arbitrary act and against basic concept of equality enshrined in the Constitution of India".

The plea said compliance with laws related to prohibition of use of community related words be ensured by the authorities concerned.
Singh has said the authorities be directed to "keep a vigilant eye upon the publication and presentation of news by the media houses so that a harmonious atmosphere among the different religions, race, castes and community people may be created in the country".