Taking a serious view of the attack on the offices of The Times of India by the supporters of a Shiv Sena MP, Press Council of India chairman and former Supreme Court judge Markandey Katju has told the state chief minister that such acts of vandalism are ''totally unacceptable'' in a democracy.

''Under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution of India, the media enjoys freedom, and under section 13 of the Press Council of India Act, it is the duty of the Press Council to maintain the freedom of the press,'' Katju wrote to Prithviraj Chavan, the chief minister. ''If media persons or media offices are physically attacked it is gross violation of the media's Constitutional right.''

In contrast to the supplicatory tones used by past chairman in their communications with governments, Justice (retd) Katju's letter is sternly worded.

Reminding the chief minister that it was his government's duty to maintain law and order, and also uphold the Constitution, Katju asked Chavan to let him know "at the earliest what action have you taken against the hooligans who committed this outrage. In particular, please inform me whether the delinquents have been arrested and any criminal proceedings launched against them.''

A group of 30 hooligans, suspected to be Shiv Sena workers, attacked the offices of The Times of India outside the CST station in Mumbai on Saturday, after Maharashtra Times, the group's Marathi daily, published a report suggesting that Anandrao Adsul, the party MP from Amravati, was likely to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

The report was published after the NCP announced that some senior Shiv Sena leaders were expected to announce their defection to the party. Incensed by the report, Adsul's supporters attacked the office of the leading publication group.

The police later arrested 30 members of a bank employees' union, headed by Adsul. They have been charged for rioting, vandalism and criminal trespass.

Adsul's son, Abhijit, who is a member of the state's legislative assembly, justified the attack, claiming that the article in Maharashtra Times had provoked his father's supporters.

There have been growing instances of attacks on media offices in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra in recent months.

''I may mention that this is not the first time that such an incident has happened in Maharashtra,'' Katju reminded Chavan. ''I had written to you earlier also about such assaults and harassment of journalists. I therefore must tell you that the Press Council may now have to take a serious view of the matter and take suitable action if such incidents are not curbed in your state.''

Journalists and various organizations in the state have been demanding that attacks on media offices and personnel be made non-bailable offences. The state government has, however, been dithering on the issue.

(See: Full text of the letter from Justice Katju to Maharashtra chief minister)