JUDGMENT Per: Hon'ble Rajiv Sharma, J. With the consent of the parties, Ministry of Labour & Employment, through its Secretary, Government of India is added as respondent no.3. 2. Mr. Rakesh Thapliyal, waived service of notice on behalf of respondent no.3. 3. The Court has taken cognizance of the letter dated 31.10.2018. 4. According to the averments made in the letter, the regular appointed correspondents and temporary correspondents are facing immense monetary hardships. The wages paid to them are inadequate, despite the recommendations made by various committees from time to time. They discharge very important functions in the democracy. They lack social security. The petitioner has sought directions to the respondents for protecting the social and economic interest of journalists/reporters/correspondents. 5. Learned Chief Standing Counsel for the State has placed on record the instructions received by him from the Additional Director. According to these instructions, various schemes have been launched for the welfare of the correspondents, journalists/reporters throughout the State of Uttarakhand. A Corpus of Rs.5.00 crores has been created. In the eventuality of death or disability, the correspondents are paid Rs.5.00 lakh out of the Corpus and Rs.10.00 lakh in exceptional cases. The correspondents who have attained the age of 60 years are paid Old Age Pension of Rs.5,000/-. Seven correspondents are being paid pension regularly out of this Corpus. The budget of Rs.25.00 lakh has been provided for medical treatment of correspondents. A Scheme for cashless treatment is under contemplation of State Government. The accredited correspondents are permitted to travel freely in the Uttarakhand Travel Corporation buses. 6. The Parliament has enacted the Act called The Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (hereinafter referred to as the Act, 1955). According tothe statement of objects and reasons, the Press Commission which was constituted by Government to inquire, among other things, into the conditions of employment of working journalists, have made certain recommendations for improvement and regulation of such service conditions by means of legislation. These recommendations cover minimum period of notice, gratuity, provident fund, settlement of industrial disputes, leave withpay, hours of work and minimum wages. The Act provides for to regulate certain conditions of service of working journalists and other persons employed in newspaper establishments. 7. Section 2(b) of the Act, 1955 defines “newspaper". 8. Section 2(c) defines “newspaper employee". 9. Section 2(d) defines “newspaper establishment". 10. The Act provides for to regulate certain conditions of service of working journalists and other persons employed in newspaper establishments. 7. Section 2(b) of the Act, 1955 defines “newspaper". 8. Section 2(c) defines “newspaper employee". 9. Section 2(d) defines “newspaper establishment". 10. Section 2(dd) defines “non-journalist newspaper employee". 11. Section 2(eee) defines “wages". 12. Section 4 provides for special provisions in respect of certain cases of retrenchment. 13. Section 5 deals with payment of gratuity. 14. The Hours of work have been defined under Section 6. 15. Leave is provided under Section 7. 16. Section 8 provides that the Central Government may, in the manner, provide fix rates of wages in respect of working journalists; revise, from time to time, at such intervals as it may think fit, the rates of wages fixed under this section of specified in the order made under section 6of the Working Journalists (Fixation of Rates of Wages) Act, 1958. 17. The procedure for fixing and revising rates of wages is provided under Section 9. 18. According to Section 9, the Central Government shall, as and when necessary, constitute a Wage Board. 19. Section 10 deals with the Recommendation of Board. 20. Section 12 empowers the Central Government to enforce recommendations of the Wage Board. 21. The Central Government is also empowered to fix interim rates of wages under Section 13A. 22. Section 13AA provides for Tribunal for fixing or revising rates of wages in respect of working journalists. 23. Chapter IIA deals with Non-Journalist Newspaper Employees. 24. The Central Government has constituted Majithia Wage Board for working journalists and nonjournalist newspaper employees in the news agencies. The Majithia Wage Board has made recommendations called “The Majithia Wage Board Award". The Board has defined basic wage, category, gross revenue of a news agency, news agency, newspaper employee, classification of news agencies, continuance of classification, 25. Recommendation No.8 deals with revised scale of wages for working journalist and Recommendation No.9 deals with revised scale of wages for non-journalist. It read as under:- “8. Revised scale of wages for working journalist- (1) The revised scale of wages and variable pay, as recommended by the Wage Board for a span of 20 years, of each group of the Working Journalists in different classes of news agency. 2. It read as under:- “8. Revised scale of wages for working journalist- (1) The revised scale of wages and variable pay, as recommended by the Wage Board for a span of 20 years, of each group of the Working Journalists in different classes of news agency. 2. Every part-time Correspondent/Photographer shall be paid not less than 40 percent, if he is posted at district head-quarters and above and not less than 30 percent, if he is posted at place below district headquarters, of the basic wage plus dearness allowance applicable to a full time Correspondent/Photographer at similar level, provided that no part-time Correspondent/Photographer will work for more than two news agencies or newspaper establishments. In addition, payment shall be paid to him on column basis, the rate of which to be settled by mutual negotiations keeping in view the basis wages and dearness allowances drawn by as part-time Correspondent and part-time Photographer. 9. Revised scale of wages for non-journalist- (1) The revised scales of wages and variable pay, as recommended by the Wage Board for a span of 20 years, of each group of the non-journalist news agency employees-Administration Staff in different classes of news agency. (2) Every time rated employee, that is to say, a person employed to work as time-rated employee (time-work) for either less or more than prescribed working hours and performs the job, or does the duty of a regular employee, shall be paid on pro-rata basis equivalent to the wages of that regular employee on the basis of number of hours for which he is employed." 26. Recommendation No.11 deals with Dearness Allowance. 27. Recommendation No.12 deals with House Rent Allowance. 28. Recommendation No.13 deals with Transport Allowance. 29. Recommendation No.14 deals with Night Shift Allowance. 30. Recommendation No.15 deals with Hardship Allowance. 31. The State Government has also framed the Rules to regulate the Corpus fund vide notification dated 31.08.2012. A notification was issued on 29.08.2016 dealing with the issue of granting old age pension to Senior Journalists/Reporters/Correspondents. 32. The recommendations of the Board were notified by the Ministry of Labour and Employment vide order dated 11th November, 2011, subject to the disposal of Writ Petition (C) No.246 of 2011, in the matter of “ABP Pvt. Ltd. & another vs. Union of India & others". 33. 32. The recommendations of the Board were notified by the Ministry of Labour and Employment vide order dated 11th November, 2011, subject to the disposal of Writ Petition (C) No.246 of 2011, in the matter of “ABP Pvt. Ltd. & another vs. Union of India & others". 33. Section 3 of the notification dated 11th November, 2011 deals with revised scales of wages and allowances of working journalists and revised scale of wages for non-journalists. It also deals with House Rent Allowance, Transport Allowance etc. 34. In 2014 (3) SCC 327 , in the case of “ABP Private Ltd. & another vs. Union of India & others", their Lordships of the Hon'ble Supreme Court have dismissed the petition on 07.02.2014 and directed that the wages as revised/determined shall be payable from 11.11.2011 when Government of India notified the recommendations of the Majithia Wage Boards. All arrears up to March 2014 was to be paid to all eligible persons in four equal installments within a period of one year from the date of passing of the judgment. Their Lordships have further directed to continue paid the revised wages from April 2014 onwards. 35. Thomas Jefferson stated as under:- “Were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter." 36. George Washington stated as under: “For my part I entertain a high idea of the utility of periodical publications; insomuch as I could heartily desire, copies of ...magazines, as well as common Gazettes, might be spread through every city, town, and village in the United States. I consider such vehicles of knowledge more happily calculated than any other to preserve the liberty, stimulate the industry, and ameliorate the morals of a free and enlightened people.- 37. Article One, Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, 1789 reads as under: “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech or of the press... -Article One, Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, 1789." 38. Henry Steel Commager, preface to a history of the New York Times, 1951 reads as under: Here is the living disproof of the old adage that nothing is as dead as yesterday's newspaper... This is what really happened, reported by a free press to a free people. -Article One, Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution, 1789." 38. Henry Steel Commager, preface to a history of the New York Times, 1951 reads as under: Here is the living disproof of the old adage that nothing is as dead as yesterday's newspaper... This is what really happened, reported by a free press to a free people. It is the raw material of history; it is the story of our own times. 39. In Renaissance Europe handwritten newsletters were circulated privately among merchants, passing along information about everything from wars and economic conditions to social customs and “Human Interest" features. The first printed forerunners of the newspaper appeared in Germany in the late 1400's in the form of news pamphlets or broad side. 40. The first newspaper in India was circulated in 1780 under the editorship of James Augustus Hickey. On May 30, 1826 Udant Martand, the first Hindi language newspaper was published in India from Calcutta. The Urdu language newspaper Urda Akhbar was published in 1836. 41. In the book “A Treatise On the Constitutional Limitations" by T.M. Colley, 1st Indian Edition 2005, the Author has defined “freedom of speech and press" to mean' “The constitutional liberty of speech and of the press, as we understand it, implies a right to freely utter and publish whatever the citizen may please, and to be protected against any responsibility for the publication, except so far as such publications, from their blasphemy, obscenity or scandalous character, may be a public offence, or as by their falsehood and malice and they may injuriously affect the private character of individuals. Or, to state, the same thing in somewhat different words, we understand liberty of speech and of the press to imply not only liberty to publish, but complete immunity for the publication, so long as it is not harmful in its character, when tested by such standards as the law affords. For these standards we must look to the common law rules which were in force when constitutional guarantees were established". (Chapter XII – “Liberty of Speech and of the Press", page 422)." 42. Author Dr. Durga Dass Basu in commentary on the Constitution of India, 8th Edition 2007 has illustrated the search for truth as under: “The search for truth – Free speech is necessary to determine the truth. But what is truth, a postmodern skeptic might wonder. (Chapter XII – “Liberty of Speech and of the Press", page 422)." 42. Author Dr. Durga Dass Basu in commentary on the Constitution of India, 8th Edition 2007 has illustrated the search for truth as under: “The search for truth – Free speech is necessary to determine the truth. But what is truth, a postmodern skeptic might wonder. “The theory of our Constitution is that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market. On this view, truth is whatever most people say is. While the market place of ideas may not always accurately filter that which is empirically verifiable as true from false", the critical question is not how well truth will advance absolutely in conditions of freedom, but how well it will advance in condition of freedom as compared with some alternative set of condition". Those who hold to the idea that truth is a knowable if not always verifiable concept are even most robust in their claim that free expression in critical to finding truth. Related to truth is the idea that free expression is necessary to develop moral virtue. In a world of extreme moral relativism this may be but a facet of the “market place of ideas" metaphor, but however our moral campass as calibrated our ability to make moral choices – to opt for good and reject evil – requires that we be free to choose. The process of moral deliberation often involves the expression of views, only to reconsider them when others reply or react to the expressed sentiments." 43. The U.S. Supreme Court in Thornhill v. Alabama (1940) 310 US 88 has held as under: “The safeguarding of these rights to the ends that men may speak as they think on matters vital to them and that falsehoods may be exposed through the processes of education and discussion in essential to free government. Those who won our independence had confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning and communications of ideas to discover and spread political and economic truth. Noxious doctrines in those fields may be refuted and their evil averted by the courageous exercise of the right of free discussion. Those who won our independence had confidence in the power of free and fearless reasoning and communications of ideas to discover and spread political and economic truth. Noxious doctrines in those fields may be refuted and their evil averted by the courageous exercise of the right of free discussion. Abridgement of freedom of speech and of the press, however, impairs those opportunities for public education that are essential to effective exercise of the power of correcting error through the processes of popular government." 44. In Schneider vs. Irvington, (1939) 308 US 147 (16), the U.S. Supreme Court has held that freedom of speech is the foundation of free Government. 45. In Whitney v. California 247 US 214, it was observed as under: “Those who won our independence believed that the final end of the state was to make men free to develop their faculties. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be secret of liberty. They believed that the freedom to think as you will and to speak as you think are means indispensable to the discovery and spread of political truth; that without free speech and assembly discussion would be futile…… that public discussion is a political duty, and that this should be a fundamental principle of the American Government." 46. In Attorney General v. Times Newspaper Ltd., (1973) 3 All ER 54, it was observed as under: “Freedom of expression, as learned writers have observed, has our broad social purposes to serve: (1) it helps individual to attain self fulfillment, (2) it assists in the discovery of truth (3) it strengthens the capacity of an individual in participating in decision-making; (4) it provides a mechanism by which it would be possible to establish a reasonable balance between stability and social change. All members of society should be able to form their own beliefs and communicate them freely to others. In sum, fundamental principle involved here is the people's right to know. Freedom of speech and expression should, therefore, receive a generous support from all those who believe in the participation of people in the administration." 47. Historian Bury has observed that freedom of expression is “a supreme condition of mental and moral progress 48. In sum, fundamental principle involved here is the people's right to know. Freedom of speech and expression should, therefore, receive a generous support from all those who believe in the participation of people in the administration." 47. Historian Bury has observed that freedom of expression is “a supreme condition of mental and moral progress 48. U.S. Supreme Court in Speiser vs. Randall, (1958) 357 US 513 (530) has held that it is absolutely indispensable for the preservation of a free society in which government is based upon the consent of an informed citizenry and is dedicated to the protection of the rights of all, even the most despised minorities. 49. Their Lordships of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Maneka Gandhi vs. Union of India, (1978) 1 SCC 248 have held as under: “30. Now, it may be pointed out at the outset that it is not our view that a right which is not specifically mentioned by name can never be a fundamental right within the meaning of Article 19(1). It is possible that a right does not find express mention in any clause of Article 19(1) and yet it may be covered by some clause of that Article. Take for example, by way of illustration, freedom of press. It is a most cherished and valued freedom in a democracy: indeed democracy cannot survive without a free press. Democracy is based essentially on free debate and open discussion, for that is the only corrective of Governmental action in a democratic set up. If democracy means government of the people by the people, it is obvious that every citizen must be entitled to participate in the democratic process and in order to enable him to intelligently exercise his right of making a choice, free and general discussion of public matters is absolutely essential. Manifestly, free debate and open discussion, in the most comprehensive sense, is not possible unless there is a free and independent press. Indeed the true measure of the health and vigour of a democracy is always to be found in its press. Look at its newspapers-do they reflect diversity of opinions and views, do they contain expression of dissent and criticism against governmental policies and actions, or do they obsequiously sing the praises of the government or lionize or deify the ruler. Indeed the true measure of the health and vigour of a democracy is always to be found in its press. Look at its newspapers-do they reflect diversity of opinions and views, do they contain expression of dissent and criticism against governmental policies and actions, or do they obsequiously sing the praises of the government or lionize or deify the ruler. The newspapers are the index of the true character of the Government-whether if is democratic or authoritarian. It was Mr. Justice Potter Stewart who said: “Without an informed and free press, there cannot be an enlightened people". Thus freedom of the press constitutes one of the pillars of democracy and indeed lies at the foundation of democratic Organisation and yet it is not enumerated in so many terms as a fundamental right in Article 19(1), though there is a view held by some constitutional jurists that this freedom is too basic and fundamental not to receive express mention in Part III of the Constitution. But it has been held by this Court in several decisions, of which we may mention only three, namely, Express Newspapers' case, Sakal Newspapers case and Bennett Coleman & Co's case, that freedom of the press is part of the right of free speech and expression and is covered by Article 19 (1) (a). The, reason is that freedom of the press is nothing but an aspect of freedom of speech and expression. It partakes of the same basic nature and character and is indeed an integral part of free speech and expression and perhaps it would not be incorrect to say that it is the same right applicable in relation to the press. So also, freedom of circulation is necessarily involved in freedom of speech and expression and is part of it and hence enjoys the protection of Article 19(1) (a). Vide Ramesh Thappar v. State of Madras. Similarly, the right to paint or sing or dance or to write poetry or literature is also covered by Article 19(1) (a), because the common basic characteristic in all these activities is freedom of speech and expression, or to put it differently, each of these activities is an exercise of freedom of speech and expression. Similarly, the right to paint or sing or dance or to write poetry or literature is also covered by Article 19(1) (a), because the common basic characteristic in all these activities is freedom of speech and expression, or to put it differently, each of these activities is an exercise of freedom of speech and expression. It would thus be seen that even if a right is not specifically named in Article 19(1), it may still be a fundamental right covered by some clause of that Article, if it is an integral part of a named fundamental right or partakes of the same basic nature and character as that fundamental right. It is not enough that a right claimed by the petitioner flows or emanates from a named of widamental right or that its existence is necessary in order to make the exercise of the named fundamental right meaningful and effective. Every activity which facilitates the exercise of a named fundamental right is not necessarily comprehended in that fundamental right nor can it be regarded as such merely because it may not be possible, otherwise to effectively exercise, that fundamental right. The contrary construction would lead to incongruous results and the entire scheme of Article 19(1) which confers different rights and sanctions different restrictions according to different standards depending upon the nature, of the right will be upset. What is necessary to be seen is, and that is the test which must be applied, whether the right claimed by the petitioner is an integral part of a named fundamental right or partakes of the same basic nature and character as the named fundamental right so that the exercise of such right is in reality and substance nothing but an instance of the exercise of the named fundamental right. If this be the correct test, as we apprehend it is. the right to, go abroad cannot in all circumstances be regarded as included in freedom of speech and expression. Mr. Justice Douglas said in Kent v. Dulles that “freedom of movement across frontiers in either direction, and inside frontiers as well, was a part of our heritage. Travel abroad. like travel within the country, may be necessary for livelihood. It may be as close to the heart of the individual as the choice of what he eats, or wears, or reads. Travel abroad. like travel within the country, may be necessary for livelihood. It may be as close to the heart of the individual as the choice of what he eats, or wears, or reads. Freedom of movement is basic in our Scheme of values." And what the learned Judge, said in regard to freedom of movement in his country holds good in our country as well. Freedom of movement has been a part of our ancient tradition which always upheld the dignity of man and saw in him the embodiment of the Divine. The Vedic seers knew no limitations either in the locomotion of the human body or in the flight of the soul to higher planes of consciousness. Even in the post-Upnishadic period, followed by the Buddhistic era and the early centuries after Christ, the people of this country went to foreign lands in pursuit of trade and business or in search of knowledge or with a view to shedding on others the light of knowledge imparted to them by their ancient sages and seers. India expanded outside her borders: her ships crossed the ocean and the fine superfluity of her wealth brimmed over to the East as well as to the West. He cultural messengers and envoys spread her arts and epics in South East Asia and her religious conquered China and Japan and other Far Eastern countries and spread westward as far as Palestine and Alexendria. Even at the end of the last and the beginning of the present century, our people sailed across the seas to settle down in the African countries. Freedom of movement at home and abroad is a part of our heritage and, as already pointed out, it is a highly cherished right essential to the growth and development of the human personality and its importance cannot be over emphasised. But it cannot be said to be part of the right of free speech and expression. It is not of the same basic nature and character as freedom of speech and expression. When a person goes abroad, he may do so for a variety of reasons and it may not necessarily and always be for exercise of freedom of speech and expression. It is not of the same basic nature and character as freedom of speech and expression. When a person goes abroad, he may do so for a variety of reasons and it may not necessarily and always be for exercise of freedom of speech and expression. Every travel abroad is not an exercise of right of free speech and expression and it would not be correct to say that whenever there is a restriction on the right to go abroad, ex necessitae it involves violation of freedom of speech and expression. It is no doubt true that going abroad may be necessary in a given case for exercise of freedom of speech and expression, but that does not make it an integral part of the right of free speech and expression. Every activity that may be necessary for exercise of freedom of speech and expression or that may facilitate such exercise or make it meaningful and effective cannot be elevated to the status of a fundamental right as if it were part of the fundamental right of free speech and expression. Otherwise, practically every activity would become part of some fundamental right or the other and. The object of making certain rights only as fundamental rights with different permissible restrictions would be frustrated." 50. Their Lordships of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Express Newspapers (P) Ltd. v. Union of India, (1986) 1 SCC 133 have held as under: “[76] I would only like to stress that the freedom of thought and expression, and the freedom of the press are not only valuable freedoms in themselves but are basic to a democratic form of Government which proceeds on the theory that problems of the Government can be solved by the free exchange of thought and by public discussion of the various issues facing the nation. It is necessary to emphasize and one must not forget that the vital importance of freedom of speech and expression involves the freedom to dissent to a free democracy like ours. Democracy relies on the freedom of the press. It is the inalienable right of everyone to comment freely upon any matter of public importance. This right is one of the pillars of individual liberty - freedom of speech, which our Court has always unfailingly guarded. Democracy relies on the freedom of the press. It is the inalienable right of everyone to comment freely upon any matter of public importance. This right is one of the pillars of individual liberty - freedom of speech, which our Court has always unfailingly guarded. I wish to add that however precious and cherished the freedom of speech is under Art. 19 (1) (a) , this freedom is not absolute and unlimited at all times and under all circumstances but is subject to the restrictions contained in Art. 19 (2). That must be so because unrestricted freedom of speech and expression which includes the freedom of the press and is wholly free from restraints, amounts to uncontrolled licence which would lead to disorder and anarchy and it would be hazardous to ignore the vital importance of our social and national interest in public order and security of the State." 51. Their Lordships of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in S. Rangarajan vs. P. Jagjivan Ram, (1989) 2 SCC 574 have held as under: “[36] The democracy is a government by the people via open discussion. The democratic form of government itself demands its citizens an active and intelligent participation in the affairs of the community. The public discussion with Peoples participation is a basic feature and a rational process of democracy which distinguishes it from all other forms of government. The democracy can neither work nor prosper unless people go out to share their views. The truth is that public discussion on issues relating to administration has positive value. What Walter Lippmann said in another context is relevant here: When men act on the principle of intelligence, they go out to find the facts. . When they ignore it, they go inside themselves and find out what is there. They elaborate their prejudice instead of increasing their knowledge." 52. Their Lordships of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India vs. Cricket Association of Bengal, (1995) 2 SCC 161 have held as under: “[43] We may now summarise the law on the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19 (1 (a) as restricted by Article 19 (2. The freedom of speech and expression includes right to acquire information and to disseminate it. Freedom of speech and expression is necessary, for self-expression which is an important means of free conscience and self-fulfillment. The freedom of speech and expression includes right to acquire information and to disseminate it. Freedom of speech and expression is necessary, for self-expression which is an important means of free conscience and self-fulfillment. It enables people to contribute to debates on social and moral issues. It is the best way to find a truest model of anything, since it is only through it that the widest possible range of ideas can circulate. It is the only vehicle of political discourse so essential to democracy. Equally important is the role it plays in facilitating artistic and scholarly endeavours of all sorts. The right to communicate, therefore, includes right to communicate through any media that is available whether print or electronic or audio-visual such as advertisement, movie, article, speech etc. That is why freedom of speech and expression includes freedom of the press. The freedom of the press in terms includes right to circulate and also to determine the volume of such circulation. This freedom includes the freedom to communicate or circulate one's opinion without interference to as large a population in the country, as well as abroad, as is possible to reach." 53. It is evident that the journalists/reporters/correspondents are not getting wages as notified by the Central Government on 11th November, 2011. The pension paid to the Senior Journalists/Reporters Correspondents is also meager. The State Government is only contemplating to frame scheme for giving cashless treatment to the journalists/reporters/ correspondents. It is imperative in order to strengthen the fourth pillar of democracy to prepare the welfare schemes to improve the service conditions of journalists/reporters /correspondents including fair wages and other allowances. 54. The Andhra Pradesh Government has framed the rules for the welfare of working journalists called “The Andhra Pradesh Working Journalists Welfare Fund Rules,1986". They came into force with effect from 01.01.1986. Similarly, Orissa Government has also framed the Orissa Working Journalists Welfare Fund Rules, 2006 vide resolution dated 07.03.2006. The U.P. Government has three tier welfare benefits, i.e. pension scheme regulated by Director Public Relation, health scheme and certain reservation in housing plots/flats in Government housing schemes. 55. The Government of India has constituted 6 wage boards since 1955. The first board was constituted on 02.05.1956, second board on 12.11.1963, third board on11.06.1975, fourth board on 17.07.1985, fifth board on 02.09.1994 and sixth board on 24.05.2007. 56. 55. The Government of India has constituted 6 wage boards since 1955. The first board was constituted on 02.05.1956, second board on 12.11.1963, third board on11.06.1975, fourth board on 17.07.1985, fifth board on 02.09.1994 and sixth board on 24.05.2007. 56. The responsibility for implementation of the recommendations lies with the State Governments. In order to monitor the implementation of the notification issued on11th November, 2011, a Central Level Monitoring Committee has been set up under the Chairmanship of Principal Labour and Employment Adviser with Joint Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting & Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) as Members and Dy. Director General as Member Secretary. 57. The first meeting of the Central Level Monitoring Committee was held on 24.09.2012 at Hyderabad. The third meeting was held at Mumbai (Maharashtra) on 21.04.2014. The 5th meeting of CLMC was held in Guwahation 02nd July, 2014. The 6th meeting of CLMC was held in Raipur, Chhatisgarh on 27th August, 2014. The 7th meeting was held in Delhi on 16.10.2015. It was also attended by the representatives of the States/Union Territories including Uttarakhand. 58. With the consent of the parties, the writ petition is disposed of at the admission stage with the following directions:- A. The respondents are directed to improve the conditions of service of the journalists/reporters/correspondents as per the notification dated 11th November, 2011 and as per the Working Journalists and other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955. B. The respondent-State is directed to consider increasing the pension of elderly journalists/reporters/correspondents on the basis of consumer price index. These suggestions/recommendations are necessary to provide security and fearlessness in their professional pursuits. C. We recommend/suggest the State of Uttarakhand to frame Welfare Fund Rules, on the analogy of States of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa etc. for the welfare of journalists/reporters/correspondents. D. We also recommend/suggest that pension scheme/health scheme be framed by the State Government to be regulated by the Addl. Chief Secretary/Director, Information and Public Relations, Government of Uttarakhand by creating necessary corpus on the analogy of scheme framed by the Government of Uttar Pradesh. E. The State Government may frame scheme for Journalists for providing certain reservation in housing plots/flats in Government housing schemes. 59. Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of. 60. We remember the metonymic adage coined by English author Edward Bulwar Lytton in 1839 “The pen is mightier than the sword".