Agartala, November 26, 2025: The Public Relations and Media Committee of the National Law University, Tripura on Wednesday organised a National Symposium on “Press, People, and the Constitution: Reimagining Freedom and Accountability” at the university auditorium in Narsingarh.
The event was inaugurated by Justice Arindam Lodh, Chairperson of the Tripura Human Rights Commission, in the presence of Prof. Krishnan Mahajan, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court and former Dean of NLUD and RGNUL Patiala; veteran journalist Subir Bhaumik, former BBC Bureau Chief for East and Northeast India; and Prof. (Dr.) Yogesh Pratap Singh, Founding Vice-Chancellor of NLU Tripura.
Speaking at the symposium, Subir Bhaumik delivered a candid assessment of the challenges confronting media today, calling the practice of journalism a “constant struggle for balance” between freedom, responsibility and regulatory oversight.
Sharing what he termed “a foot soldier’s view,” Bhaumik said field reporting taught him to cross borders and engage with all voices. “If they are Indians, we must communicate. That is my right as an Indian and as a journalist,” he said.
Warning that the 24×7 news cycle and social media have “severely damaged factual accuracy,” he recalled instances where national figures were wrongly declared dead in the race for speed. Drawing from his own experience of breaking the news of Mother Teresa’s death for BBC, he added, “Mark Tully used to say: it’s important to be first, but more important to get it right.”
He underscored the value of editorial guidelines, contrasting BBC’s rigid manual with the absence of similar standards in many Indian newsrooms. On rising pressures from business and political interests, he cautioned that “judicial terrorism” in the form of multiple cases against journalists is one of the most severe threats to press freedom.
Criticising media trials, he cited the Sushant Singh Rajput case, saying actress Rhea Chakraborty was hounded “without an iota of evidence.” He added that corporate ownership has distorted editorial independence, while unregulated social media has become “a monster.”
Despite these concerns, Bhaumik said India still fares better than neighbouring countries. “We remain ahead only because people fought to defend essential freedoms,” he noted.
Welcoming the speakers, NLUT Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Dr.) YP Singh highlighted the indispensable role of a free and accountable press in shaping constitutional democracy. He emphasised the importance of dissent, recalling John Stuart Mill’s argument that even a solitary opinion must not be silenced. “Truth is dialectical. Dissent is the hallmark of progress,” he remarked.
Prof. Singh traced the evolution of Article 19(1)(a) through landmark Supreme Court rulings and expressed concern over India’s declining performance in global press freedom indices. “Greater power comes with greater accountability. As the fourth pillar of democracy, the media must remain answerable to the people,” he said.
He stressed that journalism must act as a watchdog over centres of power. “Without active and accountable journalism, we cannot achieve the goal of becoming a developed nation by 2047,” he added.
Justice Arindam Lodh, addressing the gathering on Constitution Day, urged journalists and citizens to uphold constitutional morality and strengthen the connection between “the people, the press and the Constitution.” Calling the Constitution a “living, breathing document,” he said its vitality lies in responsible interpretation and practice.
Recalling his father’s motivation for starting an English newspaper in 1959, he said journalism should serve public interest by taking people’s concerns to policymakers. “This is where the object of the press lies. We must ask ourselves whether we have achieved that objective,” he said.
Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Justice Lodh reminded the audience that the Constitution must be “driven with wisdom and responsibility.” He called on citizens to verify information, resist misinformation and cultivate constitutional thinking. “Truth is not a slogan, it is a discipline,” he stressed.
Addressing students, he said, “The choices you make—what you read, what you believe, what you stand for—will shape India’s destiny.”
The symposium was organised as part of the observance of the 75th Constitution Day. NLU Tripura reaffirmed its commitment to promoting informed citizenship and encouraging meaningful dialogue on press freedom and accountability in a constitutional democracy.
