School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash on Monday reportedly assured a delegation of the Utkal Journalists’ Association (UJA) that the State Government is well-aware of the professional independence of working journalists and would, after examining the recent notification of the District Education Officers which has created furor among journalists and intellectuals, soon issue a fresh directive.
A delegation of the UJA led by its president Bibhuti Bhusan Kar submitted a memorandum to the Minister demanding withdrawal of the notification.
In a statement, the association said the notification which violates fundamental right of journalists be withdrawn immediately; otherwise, journalists would go for a State-wide strike.