BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 26th November 2025: The Public Relations and Media Committee of the National Law University, Tripura (NLUT) hosted a National Symposium on the theme “Press, People, and the Constitution: Reimagining Freedom and Accountability” at the University auditorium in Narsingarh, Agartala, on Wednesday. The event, coinciding with the 75th Constitution Day, brought together eminent jurists, journalists, and academics to deliberate on the evolving relationship between media and constitutional democracy.
The symposium 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; Subir Bhaumik, veteran journalist and former BBC Bureau Chief for East and Northeast India; and Prof. Dr. Yogesh Pratap Singh, Founding Vice-Chancellor of NLUT.
Delivering a keynote address, Subir Bhaumik offered a candid reflection on the state of media freedom, describing it as a “constant struggle for balance” between rights, responsibilities, and regulatory oversight. Presenting what he called “a foot soldier’s view,” Bhaumik recounted his decades in field reporting, often crossing borders and engaging with voices branded “anti-national.” He stressed that communication with citizens, regardless of labels, was both a journalistic duty and a constitutional right.
Warning against the erosion of factual accuracy in the age of 24×7 news and social media, Bhaumik recalled instances where national figures were wrongly declared dead in the race for speed. He contrasted this with his own experience of reporting Mother Teresa’s death for the BBC, where he waited for medical confirmation despite pressure. “It’s important to be first, but more important to get it right,” he quoted veteran journalist Mark Tully.
Bhaumik underscored the importance of editorial guidelines, lamenting their absence in many Indian newsrooms. He cautioned against judicial harassment of journalists, terming it “judicial terrorism,” and condemned reckless media trials such as the vilification of Rhea Chakraborty in the Sushant Singh Rajput case. He also highlighted the distortions caused by corporate ownership and the unregulated spread of social media, which he described as “a monster.” Despite challenges, he reminded the audience that India’s press freedoms remain stronger than in neighbouring countries, thanks to persistent struggles to defend essential liberties.
Welcoming the dignitaries, NLUT Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Yogesh Pratap Singh emphasised the indispensable role of a free and accountable press in sustaining constitutional democracy. Drawing on John Stuart Mill’s philosophy, he reminded students that dissent and debate are essential to discovering truth. He cited constitutional jurisprudence from Romesh Thappar to Shreya Singhal as evidence of the Supreme Court’s consistent protection of press freedom.
Prof. Singh expressed concern over India’s declining position in the World Press Freedom Index and rising ownership concentration, stressing that “freedom comes with accountability.” He urged students to see journalism as a check on centres of power, essential for India’s aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047.
Justice Arindam Lodh, in his Constitution Day address, called upon journalists, citizens, and institutions to uphold constitutional values and strengthen the bond between “the people, the press and the Constitution.” Recalling his father’s decision to start an English newspaper in Tripura in 1959 to bridge local grievances with policymakers in Delhi, he highlighted journalism’s true purpose: amplifying people’s voices.
Quoting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Justice Lodh reminded the gathering that “the Constitution is a vehicle of life” requiring wisdom and responsibility. He urged citizens to verify information, cultivate constitutional thinking, and embrace respectful disagreement as the essence of democracy. “Democracy is not a gift; it is a responsibility,” he concluded, reaffirming the need for truth, justice, transparency, and the rule of law in everyday life.
The symposium ended with a collective call to nurture informed citizenship and reaffirm the constitutional ideals of freedom and accountability in India’s democratic journey.
