A three-member committee has been formed by the Press Council of India to probe into the complaint that the reporters of two newspapers were being prevented from attending the press conferences of Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.
PCI Chairperson Justice (retd) Markandey Katju, formed a 3-member committee, comprising journalists Rajeev Ranjan Nag as convenor, K Amarnath and Prajnananda Chaudhury as members, to enquire the matter.
In an order issued today, Katju said it had been brought to his notice that the "accredited reporters of 'Saakshi' daily and 'Namaste Telangana' newspapers were being prevented from attending the official press conferences of the Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister."
Justice Katju, while ordering the probe, said on careful consideration of matter on the basis of representations from National Union of Journalists (India) and Indian Journalists Union, he 'prima facie' believed that restrictions on the reporters in covering the press conference affects the freedom of the media of access to and dissemination of news."
The committee would shortly be visiting Hyderabad to execute its mandate, a press release issued here said.
As per the PCI order, the Committee should meet and interact with all stakeholders in Hyderabad and elsewhere, as well as the concerned authorities and others concerned.
