NEW DELHI: The Union government has directed senior officials in the ministry of information & broadcasting (I&B) and other departments to refrain from interacting with the media without authorisation from 'competent authorities', a bid to enforce message discipline in the ranks.
A circular, issued by the I&B ministry following Smriti Irani's induction as minister, said the decision was taken after it was noticed that officials in the ministry, or its media units, were interacting with the press without authorisation. The ministry also said when approached by media representatives, officials should "direct him/her to the Press Information Bureau or seek permission of the minister or the secretary of the ministry/department" before meeting them.
Circulated among senior officials of the I&B ministry and other departments, the circular refers to departmental procedures and guidelines, and seeks to emphasise that no one but governmentdesignated official spokespersons — the PIB — must interact with the media on the government's behalf.
In 2014, PM Modi had also advised the bureuacracy and his ministerial colleagues to refrain from speaking to journalists, and let official spokespersons talk on the government's behalf. Government sources sought to play down the two-month old circular as a "routine affair" and added that procedure allowed only the secretary, or a person designated by the secretary, to speak to the media.
A circular, issued by the I&B ministry following Smriti Irani's induction as minister, said the decision was taken after it was noticed that officials in the ministry, or its media units, were interacting with the press without authorisation. The ministry also said when approached by media representatives, officials should "direct him/her to the Press Information Bureau or seek permission of the minister or the secretary of the ministry/department" before meeting them.
Circulated among senior officials of the I&B ministry and other departments, the circular refers to departmental procedures and guidelines, and seeks to emphasise that no one but governmentdesignated official spokespersons — the PIB — must interact with the media on the government's behalf.
In 2014, PM Modi had also advised the bureuacracy and his ministerial colleagues to refrain from speaking to journalists, and let official spokespersons talk on the government's behalf. Government sources sought to play down the two-month old circular as a "routine affair" and added that procedure allowed only the secretary, or a person designated by the secretary, to speak to the media.
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