VizagNews.com - Media furore over Collectors Gag order against Press

Visakhapatnam, December 8, 2005

A gag order served by the Visakhapatnam District Administration on two telugu dailies seeking to screen before publication news reports pertaining to public servants created a furore in the media on Thursday. Journalist unions described it as an attempt to curtail the freedom of the press. On learning about the implication of the order, the Government intervened and got the order annulled. These developments took place followed a notice cum interim order served by DRO, Visakhapatnam in his capacity as Sub Divisional Magistrate on journalists working in these two dailies.

The notice that was served on the Editor of Andhra Jyothi K Ramachandra Murthy and Editor of Leader VV Ramana Murty and others said the dailies had been publishing adverse news items about alleged land deals by IAS and IPS offices, besides civil servants and politicians in the city.

Embarrassed by the episode, the Chief Minister, YS Rajasekhara Reddy intervened and sought an explanation from the District Collector Praveen Prakash. He said such orders had no place in a democracy and condemned the action. With the intervention of the CM, the orders which were served were withdrawn by the District Collector. Meanwhile, the journalists who gathered at the Collectorate where a press briefing on the Visakha Utsav was scheduled to be conducted held a demonstration denouncing the action of the officials' action. A Rasta rook was held at the Collectorate junction and the effigies of the District Collector and RDO were burnt. The CPI district secretary, Stree Vimukti leader expressed solidarity with the journalists.

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