Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, made light of India’s fall to 161st position in press freedom ranking, saying “that depends on who is giving the rating. I can have my own forum and give India the first rating”.
The remark was in response to the Supreme Court’s observation that India has fallen to the 161st position out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index published by the non-profit organisation, Reporters Without Borders. In 2022, India was ranked at 150.
“India is 161 in ranking in journalistic freedom,” Justice K.M. Joseph, heading a three-judge Bench, addressed the Union and Gujarat governments, represented by Mr. Mehta, during a hearing in the Bilkis Bano case.
