The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has shot down a proposal by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to have annual police verification of all journalists accredited to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) at the time of renewal of their ID cards.
The MHA had recently asked PIB to ensure that all 2,500 plus accredited journalists must have police verification at the time of yearly renewal of their cards. The proposal met with stiff resistance from journalists who felt that this may turn out to be tool to harass journalists who write anti-establishment articles by blocking their access to ministries. The PIB cards give easy access to journalists to various ministries and departments except some sensitive areas like the Prime Ministers’ Office and Defence Ministry. Journalists also felt that the process of verification may also delay delivery of PIB cards.
While allaying all concerns, Frank Noronha, Director General of the PIB under I&B Ministry clarified that accredited journalists would not need to undergo security verification every year to get their cards renewed. However, a list of all cases for renewal will be sent for approval before issue to the Chief Security Officer (CSO), MHA, as is the normal practice, he added.
All PIB accredited journalists undergo police verification when they get card for the first time.
Thereafter, they are renewed based on letters of recommendation from employers. There is a separate criteria for freelance journalists.
The proposal for annual police verification was mooted apparently in the wake of espionage in the Petroleum Ministry in which several classified documents were allegedly leaked.
Some journalists, staffers of the Ministry and a few private people were accused in the case. But sources that there was a need to keep a vigil on journalists as they have easy access to government offices and important persons.