JJA Condemns Restrictions on Media Entry into Jharkhand Secretariat

The Jharkhand Journalists Association (JJA) has strongly opposed the decision to restrict media personnel from entering the Jharkhand Secretariat, also known as Project Bhavan, in Ranchi. The association said the move could make it difficult for journalists to perform their professional duties and access information from the state government.

JJA state president Abhay Kumar Labh and state general secretary Sanjeev Sameer criticised the decision, comparing it to restrictions imposed on the media during the Emergency. They said journalists play an important role in keeping the public informed and that any decision affecting their access to government proceedings should be reconsidered.

JJA founder Shahnewaz Hasan has also sought the intervention of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on the issue. Hasan said journalists are an important part of a democratic system and alleged that preventing them from gathering news amounted to an attempt to restrict the functioning of the fourth pillar of democracy.

The issue came into sharper focus in Ranchi when journalists decided to boycott coverage of the state Cabinet meeting in protest against the restrictions on their entry into the Secretariat. During the protest, cameras remained unused while microphone IDs were placed on the ground as a symbolic expression of their objection.

The association said the situation reflects growing concerns over communication between the government and the media. It appealed to the authorities to initiate dialogue with journalists and find a solution that allows the government to maintain necessary security arrangements while ensuring that the media can continue to carry out its reporting responsibilities.

The controversy has once again brought the issue of media access to government offices and the importance of transparency in public administration into focus. Journalists' associations have maintained that reasonable security protocols can coexist with uninterrupted access for accredited media professionals.
 

Advertisement