New Delhi, Feb 20: The Editors Guild of India on Sunday raised objections to the new accreditation guidelines issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), saying vague, arbitrary and draconian clauses have been included in it with an intent to restrict any critical and investigative reporting of government affairs.
It demanded that the new accreditation guidelines be withdrawn and urged the PIB to undertake "a meaningful consultation" with all the stakeholders to come up with revised guidelines.
"The Editors Guild of India is deeply concerned about the newly released Central Media Accreditation Guidelines issued by the Press Information Bureau of India, which lays down the rules for giving accreditation to journalists for accessing and reporting from the headquarters of Government of India," it said in a statement.
It noted that the new guidelines contain various new provisions under which accreditation of a journalist can be revoked, many of which are arbitrary and without any due process of law .
For instance, accreditation can be revoked if a journalist is "charged with a serious cognizable offence", or if a journalist "acts in a manner which is prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security of State, friendly relations with foreign states, public order, decency or morality or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence", the Guild noted.
"It is bizarre that merely being charged has been mentioned as a ground for cancellation, it said.
The other grounds for cancellation are manifestly vague and subjective , especially since no procedures have been set out and there is no mention of the adjudicating authority that will decide on suspension, it pointed out.
"Worse still, concerned journalists have not been given an opportunity to be heard, it said adding, Most surprisingly, 'defamation' has been included as a ground for cancellation.
The Guild said that a new clause requiring police verification has been added without defining the contours of such verification.
Since no standards have been prescribed, it can grant unfettered powers to the police for denying accreditation to journalists who may be seen as critical of the government, it said.
It is clear that these vague, arbitrary, and draconian clauses have been included with an intent to restrict any critical and investigative reporting of government affairs, it added.
There are other provisions as well that are restrictive , it said.
In the case of freelance journalists, the requirements pertaining to the number of by-lines have been made unreasonably high , it said.
Furthermore, these guidelines have been introduced without any prior consultation with journalists' bodies, media organisations or any other relevant stakeholders.
The Guild therefore demands a withdrawal of these guidelines and urges the PIB to undertake meaningful consultation with all the stakeholders if it is intent on revising them, the EGI said.
The Guild has written a letter to the PIB elaborating on all these issues, it added.
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Karachi/New Delhi, Jul 26 (PTI): The men's Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28, Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi announced on Saturday.
As per the draft itinerary in possession of PTI, the marquee group match between India and Pakistan will be held at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday (September 14).
The arch-rivals are clubbed in the same group and are expected to square off again in a Super Four game on next Sunday (September 21). India will start its campaign against UAE on September 10 and are likely to play all its matches in Dubai.
India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman are clubbed in group A, while Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong are in group B. The ACC will allow 17-member squads for the 19-match tournament and matches will be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Earlier, Naqvi, who is also the chairman of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took to 'X' to make a formal announcement.
"I am delighted to confirm the dates of the ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025 in UAE. The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th. We look to a spectacular display of cricket. Details schedule will be out soon," Naqvi posted.
The venue of the event was decided at an ACC meeting on July 24. All 25 member nations attended the meeting.
BCCI is the host of the tournament but it is being held in the UAE as India and Pakistan have mutually agreed to compete only at neutral venues till 2027 due to the prevailing cross-border tension between them.
As per ACC's deal with the broadcasters, India and Pakistan will be clubbed in the same group and also get another shot at each other in the Super Four stage with a possibility of a third meeting if both teams reach the final.
This edition of the Asia Cup will be held in T20 format as is the convention with the next ICC global meet being T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
India's Asia Cup Group League itinerary
Sep 10: India vs UAE
Sep 14: India vs Pakistan
Sep 19: India vs Oman.
Super Four Schedule
Sep 20: B1 vs B2
Sep 21: A1 vs A2 (likely India vs Pakistan)
Sep 23: A2 svs B1
Sep 24: A1vs B2
Sep 25: A2 vs B2
Sep 26: A1 vs B1
Sep 28: Final.