The Hindu : National : Accreditation denial stayed

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Saturday, Feb 10, 2007
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National

National

Accreditation denial stayed

Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed the operation of an order passed by the Assam Government cancelling the accreditation cards granted to correspondents of the North East Television (NETV) for covering the 33rd National Games in Assam, which commenced on Friday.

A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice D.K. Jain stayed the February 6 order passed by the Media Accreditation Committee set up by the Assam Government after hearing senior counsel Harish Salve for the petitioner and issued notice to the parties concerned for their reply.

The petition

The petitioner, NETV, submitted that the Assam Government did not view the coverage given by its channel to the large-scale killings in the North East region favourably. It was interpreted as a negative publicity given by the petitioner's channel. The channel was also highlighting the issues connected with the national games.

On February 4, the spokesperson to the Chief Minister addressed a press conference stating that during the 33rd National Games, the NETV reporters would be boycotted. However, the petitioner ignored the statement and was keen to cover the games, when on February 6, the accreditation cards given to its reporters were cancelled. Contending that the said order had been passed contrary to the fundamental rights of the petitioner, it sought quashing of the impugned order and an interim stay of its operation.

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