Radio France Journalist departs India following work permit denial by MHA
New Delhi: Sebastien Farcis, a South Asian correspondent for Radio France Internationale, departed India on Monday after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denied the renewal of his work permit, despite multiple appeals. Farcis is the second French journalist to leave India within four months, following Vanessa Dougnac's departure in February.
The situation began on March 7th, when the MHA refused to renew Farcis's journalist permit without providing any reasons. Farcis, who has worked in India for 13 years, stated that he always adhered to regulations for foreign journalists and avoided restricted areas unless permitted by the MHA. The decision came as a shock to him, especially during the eve of the Lok Sabha elections, officially preventing him from covering the event.
Farcis, who holds Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) status and is married to an Indian woman, referred to India as his "second homeland." Besides Radio France, he also reported for Liberation and the Swiss and Belgian public radios. In a statement published on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) on Thursday, Farcis wrote, "This denial [of permit] comes in a worrying context of increasing restrictions on the work of foreign journalists… At least five OCI foreign correspondents have been banned from working as journalists in less than two years."
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an independent media watchdog, has called on the Indian government to renew Farcis's journalism permit immediately. CPJ's India representative, Kunal Majumder, stated, "The departure of Sébastien Farcis highlights the increasing challenges faced by foreign journalists in India. The arbitrary refusal to renew his journalism permit, without explanation, undermines press freedom and disrupts journalists’ lives." He urged authorities to "ensure that all journalists can work without fear of unjust reprisal, upholding India’s democratic values."
Attempts by CPJ to contact Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla for comment were unsuccessful. Reporters Without Borders, an international NGO advocating for press freedom, has ranked India 159th in the World Press Freedom Index, noting that such a position is unbecoming of a democratic nation.
After 13 years working as a correspondent in India, the authorities have denied me a permit to work as a journalist. I have thus been forced to leave the country.
— Sébastien Farcis (@sebfarcis) June 20, 2024
Here is my statement. pic.twitter.com/m52Q4ABsRk
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Karnataka School Edu Dept prohibits children from being made to dance to obscene songs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka School Education Department has issued a circular strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes.
It stated that such dances would negatively impact students' mental health and moral values. It will create indiscipline and harm the sanctity of education.
"All the Deputy Directors (Administration) of the state's School Education Department have been asked to take strict measures to prevent children or students from dancing to obscene songs in all government, aided and unaided schools in the state," the office of the commissioner of the School Education Department said in a recent circular.
"If it is found that children are being made to dance to obscene songs, appropriate action will be taken against the headmaster or management of such school," it added.
The department also listed certain measures in this regard, which include: strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes; selecting songs that are inspiring, positive, instilling national pride in children and reflecting the greatness, dignity, values, culture, and morality of the state.
Stating that the school headmaster and management are responsible for selecting songs and dances for cultural programmes, it said, they should also ensure that students wear decent clothes in dance or cultural programmes.
