NEW DELHI: The Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has condemned the gag order for journalists covering the Union Home Ministry.

It noted that such curbs are not new and have been in force since 2014, albeit in a not such an overt manner. It said the new thing was that they are now becoming more obvious and blatant.

A report in a Delhi daily in this regard is an ominous indicator of things to come. It has been reported that the practice of journalists meeting senior officers in their chambers virtually comes to an end.

The directive from Joint Secretary Satpal Chouhan said, “The information flow to mediapersons will be arranged in media room no. 9, North Block. Mediapersons will be told by ADG [Media] that they do not have briefing/meeting with officers other than in the media room.”

Chouhan, in his directive, added that MA Ganapathy, joint secretary (Internal Security), being the official spokesperson of the Ministry, will brief the media on a need-to-do basis.

The DUJ, while expressing its strongest disapproval of this order, expressed its solidarity with the protesting journalists.