The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has nominated 13 journalist members to the Press Council of India, filling long-vacant seats on the media watchdog. The nominations, issued on October 8, bring the council closer to full strength after it functioned with reduced membership.

The Press Council is a statutory body that sets standards for newspapers and news agencies and hears complaints against the press. The new members represent working journalists from across categories, and their appointment is expected to restart the council’s adjudication work.

Media bodies welcomed the move, saying a fully functional council is essential for both press freedom and accountability. The council had been operating at half strength, which had slowed the disposal of complaints.

With the fresh nominations, the council can now constitute benches and take up pending cases. Observers said the appointments end a long period of uncertainty for the institution.

The Press Council hears complaints from readers and journalists and can censure publications that violate journalistic ethics. Its full functioning is seen as important at a time when debates over media accountability continue across the country.