The Committee has directed the complainant to send a fresh rejoinder and further directed the Asomiya Pratidin to publish the same together with an apology in the newspaper.  The Council also took great interest in the complaint filed by Smt. Karabi Duta against seven dailies of Guwahati. These newspapers had reported on the cases of rape and sexual harassment. However, the limit was crossed when the papers printed details such as the names and addresses of the victims, which the Council felt was a violation not only of journalistic ethics and conduct but also a violation of law. The Council had directed the respondent newspapers to publish unqualified apologies for causing harm to the victims and their family in particular and the society at large and to also publish an undertaking that in future, such specific and sensitive details in such cases will not be published.
After the session at Guwahati, the members of the Press Council and its chairman visited Shillong where they had a very informal interaction with members of the media. The welcome address was given by the president of the Shillong Press Club Mr. David Laitphlang after which the chairman of the Council Justice G. N Ray spoke on behalf of the members of the Council. He informed all present that the Press Council of India is a regulatory body with 28 members, 20 of whom are elected and 8 nominated. He also expressed regret that most of the people don’t know about the existence of the Press Council of India let alone its functions. He said that the main function of the Press Council of India is to protect the members of the press and from time to time pull them up if they step beyond the boundaries of their profession. He said that there is no straight jacket formula and that the regulatory body should be based on ethics. He called the members of the media ‘pathfinders’ and called upon them to highlight all the good things happening in the region and not to dwell on sensational news. After this, the Council fielded several questions put before it by the members of the media and addressed a lot of burning issues.
In a separate but related event, the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspaper (IFSMN), Shillong facilitated the chairman of the Press Council of India Ret. Justice G. N. Ray in a simple but impressive function at Hotel Polo Towers, Shillong. While speaking on the occasion, Justice G.N Ray said that the small and medium newspapers are going through a period of crisis and that their survival is at stake. He informed that the Press Council of India is looking into the issues concerning the small and medium newspapers and whenever an opportunity comes along to help the policies for growth of these newspapers, the chairman would extend his full support. The National Joint Secretary of the Indian Federation of Small and Medium Newspaper offered his welcome address and called the North East Region a ‘mini India’ where more than 200 different tribes are living. As such, small newspapers, especially the vernacular ones need to be protected as they serve people belonging to the minorities immensely.

EP Desk