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In two separate communications, one to the Lok Sabha speaker, Om Birla and Rajya Sabha chairperson, Jagdeep Ghankar, the Editor’s Guild has raised the issue of the immediate need for unrestricted access for journalists to the Central Hall of Parliament as well as coverage of all sessions therein. The communication also states that the constitution of the Press Advisory Committee is also long overdue.
Drawing attention to the new practice of the Secretariat to limit access of journalists to cover the proceedings of Parliament, suspension of Central Hall for senior journalists admitted after procedure and non-constitution of the Press Advisory Committee over the last three years, the communication points out that these restrictions were put in place on account of the covid-19 protocols in 2020. These restrictions have even extended to some accredited media persons.
The Editor’s Guild also states that journalists from print and electronic medium have been given access to cover the proceedings since the Constituent Assembly and later the first Parliament with the objective of keeping the citizens abreast with the work of their representatives, developments inside the House, and the dynamics outside. This is vital in a parliamentary democracy. Seniors recall that even during the Emergency period, members of press who could not get accreditation from the Press Information Bureau for some reasons, were not denied facility to cover the proceedings. As for access to Central Hall, it is a privilege accorded to accredited journalist after minimum of 10 years of reportage and it is a place where informal discussions happen which are not reported as a matter of convention.
In fact, way back in 1956 there was a move to dissociate journalists from the facility and the then Speaker observed that “Central Hall facility helps the journalists in having close discussions with Ministers and the members with a view to know the real and comparatively better background of things than studying from the Press Gallery. The freedom of expression thus keeps the public outside informed not only about the plans of the Government but also the considerations and the motives which prompt it to embark upon such plans…a close contact between the press and the legislature is essential for keeping the public well informed and perhaps not advisable to abolish Central Hall facilities”.
Besides, there is a need for grant of temporary and visiting journalist passes, which has been suspended for two years puts the young members of the media fraternity at a great disadvantage. The process allows youngsters to acquaint themselves with the procedures and processes and pick-up nuances under guidance of seniors, says the Editor’s Guild.
“It is only after a specified period of coverage that media persons qualify to apply for permanent pass. For accreditation under various categories, applications are screened by the Press Advisory Committee appointed by the Speaker with Lok Sabha Press and Public Relations Committee, conducting due diligence as per guidelines approved by the General Purpose Committee. The above role was envisaged by your illustrious predecessor G.V. Mavalankar, who in 1946 decided the Committee should, among other things, discharge advisory functions including examination of temporary and permanent admissions to the press gallery and that applications for such admission would be referred to the Committee for its opinion and advice. Since then, the process remained in place till it was abandoned recently.
“That such a practice was stopped when Parliament completed 70th year of its existence narrates its own story. We are certain under your guidance, these restrictions will be lifted by the Secretariat and members of the media admitted will have unhindered access in the “temple of democracy”, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi characterised Parliament on his first visit in 2014.
The communications of the Editor’s Guild have been signed by Seema Mustafa, president, Anant Nath, general secretary and Shriram Pawar, treasurer. The Press Advisory Committee has also not been reconstituted. The Committee has an historical background and was founded in 1929 under the guidance of the President of the first elected Legislative Assembly, Vithalbhai Patel.
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