Telangana HC declares media accreditation rules for small newspapers unjust, quashes Schedule E [Read Order]

Telangana: The Telangana High Court has delivered a significant order highlighting the arbitrary categorization in media accreditation while quashing Schedule E of the Telangana Media Accreditation Rules, 2016.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao allowed a writ petition challenging the validity of Schedule E of G.O.Ms.No.239 dated 15.07.2016, which categorized small newspapers into A, B, C, and D categories for accreditation purposes.

Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao observed that the 2016 Rules do not provide criteria for categorizing small newspapers into four categories, and this categorization was only present in Schedule E.

The court noted that the petitioners, comprising journalists employed by various small newspapers in Telangana, had sought to challenge Schedule E as violative of Articles 14, 16, 19, and 21 of the Constitution of India.

Further, the court observed that the counter filed by the respondents offered no justification for the categorization of small newspapers into four categories. The court held, “In the absence of any provision in the policy itself, the action of the respondents in depriving the journalists working at district and constituency levels of the benefit of accreditation cannot be said to be justified.”

Additionally, the court observed that under the previous policy of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government, even journalists of small newspapers working at district and constituency levels were entitled to accreditation.

Expressing its view on the arbitrary nature of the categorization, the court stated, “In the absence of any explanation on behalf of the respondents, depriving the journalists working in small newspapers at the district and constituency levels of the benefit of accreditation is arbitrary and cannot be termed as justified.”

The court further directed the State Government to frame guidelines for extending accreditation benefits to journalists working in small newspapers at district and constituency levels based on fair and rational criteria within two months.

In conclusion, while quashing Schedule E of the 2016 Rules, the court emphasized the need for fair and rational criteria in granting accreditation to journalists, particularly those working for small newspapers at local levels.

[Read Order]