The Press Council of India (PCI) has called for a report from the Uttar Pradesh government over reports about Gorakhpur district administration barring the presence of media during the counting of votes for the just-concluded Lok Sabha bypolls in the state.
The media watchdog has taken suo moto cognizance of the case, observing that the reported restrictions imposed on media prima facie appeared to be impinging on the freedom of the Press.
On the orders of the Gorakhpur district administration, media persons were asked to leave the counting centre on March 14.
Gorakhpur parliamentary constituency, which fell vacant after Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) leader Yogi Adityanath resigned as a Member of Parliament (MP) to don the hat of UP Chief Minister, was held on March 11.
“PCI chairman justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad has taken note of the report of restriction imposed on media at the counting centre of Gorakhpur parliamentary constituency on March 14 by the district magistrate as prima facie impinging on the freedom of the Press,” the Council said.
Taking suo moto cognizance of the issue, a report on the facts of the case has been called for “along with a written reply” in the matter from the UP chief secretary and Gorakhpur district magistrate, it added.
