PRESS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC)
Press Advisory Committee consisting of senior representatives of the Press having regular Press Gallery passes, is nominated by the Speaker, Lok Sabha every year. PPR Wing provides secretarial assistance to the Press Advisory Committee which generally comprises 27 members. The members nominated to the Committee are from amongst the representatives of the media accredited to the Lok Sabha Press Gallery. Four members of the Committee are nominated as the office bearers of the Committee, viz. Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Joint Secretary.
The broad functions of the Committee are:
- To recommend the issuance of permanent passes to the representatives of the Newspapers/News Agencies/other Media (accredited to the Lok Sabha Press Gallery) intending to report the proceedings of the House from the Gallery.
-
- To recommend the issuance of temporary passes to the representatives of the Newspapers/News Agencies/other Media intending to cover the proceedings of the House from the Gallery.
-
- To examine the complaints made against the representatives of the Newspapers/News Agencies/ other Media and to recommend to the Speaker, Lok Sabha for appropriate action.
-
- To examine the complaints relating to Media made to the Speaker, Lok Sabha for appropriate action.
-
- To recommend to the Speaker, Lok Sabha the kind of facilities that may be given to journalists to discharge their duties; and
-
- To perform such other tasks which are in line with the duties entrusted to them.
The Committee meets at least once during the period of a Session. One-fourth of the total membership forms the quorum for the above meeting of the Committee. The meetings of the Press Advisory Committee are generally convened on the directions of the Chairman/Secretary. The minutes of a meeting are ratified at the next meeting of the Committee. Thereafter, follow up action is taken on the recommendations/suggestions of the Committee.