In a move that has raised eyebrows about the free movement of the press in top Central ministries, particularly those atop Raisina Hill, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) is exploring the possibility
In a move that has raised eyebrows about the free movement of the press in top Central ministries, particularly those atop Raisina Hill, the ministry of home affairs (MHA) is exploring the possibility of making it necessary for journalists accredited with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) to get their police verification done every year for renewal.
The MHA has asked PIB to ensure that all government-accredited journalists, numbering over 2,500, must have police verification at the time of yearly renewal of their official card, which gives them uninterrupted access to various ministries and departments, particularly critical ministries of home and finance.
The move is said to be the fallout of the petroleum ministry espionage case in which several classified documents were allegedly leaked by ministry staffers to several corporates. The role of some media personnel is also being probed in the case. Among the fresh measures already effected, vigilance officers are seen roaming the corridors of the top Central ministries keeping an eye on the activities there.
“As per the agreed procedure for endorsing of MHA validation of Press Identity Cards issued to media personnel to enable them to enter government buildings under MHA security cover, the agreed procedure is that PIB would seek prior approval from chief security officer, MHA, for making these endorsements.
“These endorsements are also to be made after police verification of the concerned media personnel on a yearly basis,” the MHA said in a communication to PIB. Until now, for new accreditation, police verification was a must, but for renewals this is not required.
The home ministry conveyed that it has been observed that the police verification procedure has not been followed before making endorsements of the chief security officer of the MHA on Press Identity Cards issued in 2015.
An MHA official said police verification of any journalist cannot be timeless and hence a discussion has been going on whether to make it compulsory every year, every three years or every five years. An alternative would be for journalists to get a verification certificate signed at the local police station rather than policemen visiting each journalist’s house for yearly checks.
