NEW DELHI: While reiterating his demand for bringing electronic media under his ambit, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markanday Katju has said that self-regulation is not workable.

In his foreword to the annual report of the Council for 2011-12 placed in Parliament, Justice Katju said "all institutions in a democratic set-up are subject to regulation by an independent statutory authority".

He said regulation was a concept distinct from ?control?. He added: ?In control, there is no freedom, whereas in regulation there is freedom subject to reasonable restrictions in public interest."

He said he had asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to enact amendments in the Press Council of India Act 1978 by not only bringing the electronic media under its ambit and renaming it as the Media Council of India, but to give it more teeth for punishing those who tampered with the freedom of the press. This could include suspending advertisements to a publication for a limited period.

At the same time, Justice Katju said that "in a democracy, issues are ordinarily resolved by discussion, persuasion and dialogue and that is the method to be preferred, rather than using harsh measures."

He said if his suggestions are accepted, the Council was bound to emerge as an authority ?to be recokoned with for its support of the freedom of the press while at the same time asking the press to act responsibly.?

NEW DELHI: Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, a day before the cabinet reshuffle.

Soni?s resignation comes just four days before the sunset date for analogue cable television in the four metros of Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kolkata. Cable TV delivery in the four metros will mandatorily have to be via digital set-top boxes (STBs) from 1 November.

The Congress party has decided to utilise the servies of Soni in preparing the party for the 2014 general elections. Soni felt privileged to have been asked to work to strengthen the party cadres just over a year before the next general elections.

Soni, who will turn 70 on 13 November, is a member of the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. She became I and B Minister on 22 May 2009, and was tourism minister prior to that from 29 January 2006.

She has served as Indian Youth Congress president during emergency in 1975, and became a member of the Rajya Sabha for the first time in March 1976. She also served as general secretary of the Congress from 1999 to 2006.

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NEW DELHI: Doordarshan will telecast live the launch of PSLV-C21/SPOT-6/PRIOTERES from Sriharikota on 9 September.

The telecast on the national channel DD One and DD News will be from 9.20 am to 11 am.

India‘s Mission Polor Satellite Launch Vehicle carrying C21, French Satellite SPOT-6 and Japanese Micro Satellite PRIOTERES will be launched in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who will be the chief guest.