Delhi HC issues notice to PIB after journalist files plea over non-renewal of accreditation card
NIRNIMESH KUMAR
NEW DELHI : The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a fresh notice to the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on a petition by senior journalist Rajeev Ranjan Nag challenging non-renewal of his accreditation card without giving him any reasons.
Justice Yashwant Verma issued the notice to the Bureau when he found that there was no appearance from their side in the matter. The court sought their reply by December 8, the next date of hearing.
Nag through his counsel Niloy Dasgupta has sought a direction to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry and the PIB to renew his accreditation card as the non-issuance of the same is hampering him in performing his professional duties optimally.The renewal of PIB cards was due this year and has been delayed for around four months which caused difficulties to the accredited journalists in gathering stories, the petition said.
“They and their families also suffered due to the delay in the renewal of the cards as they were denied medical benefits during the period,” the plea added.
With the CGHS card facilities becoming ineffective after February 28 this year, many card holder journalists and their families also suffered during the Covid-19 pandemic, the petition stated.
