Journalist staged a protest at the district headquarters here opposing the State Government’s restriction on giving official information to journalists by its representative and departmental heads pleading violation of service rules.
They alleged that the officials have been skipping mediapersons’ querries and expressing their inability to part with any information as they are not allowed to do so by the Government. This is an attack on freedom of Press as journalists cannot discharge their obligation to the society.
Reports said the Government’s General Administration and Public Grievance Department has in a letter instructed officials not to give any opinion and views on media query. Even, the Government officials have been restricted from writing any article or express opinion in media.
The letter violates the Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1959 Section 7, All India Secretary Conduct Rule 1969 and ASI Conduct Rule 1968 Section 6, the journalists said.
They demanded that the State Government immediately withdraw this restriction and also submitted a memorandum addressed to the Governor through the district Collector.