NEW DELHI: Journalists accredited with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) will not have to undergo police verification every year for renewal.
Official sources said that after consultations between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the PIB, it had been decided to have agreed that in renewal cases there is no requirement of fresh security verification.
However, a list of all cases for renewal will be sent for approval before issue to the Chief Security Officer (CSO), MHA, as is the normal practice.
DG PIB Frank Noronha confirmed that now journalists would not need to undergo security verification every year to get the PIB cards renewed. PIB had also written a letter to the MHA on the issue, sources said.
The Home Ministry had earlier asked PIB to ensure that all government accredited journalists, numbering over 2,500, must have police verification at the time of yearly renewal of their official card, which gives them access to various ministries and departments.
However there were concerns that this would delay the process and about practical difficulties.
The MHA move was said to be fallout of Petroleum Ministry’s espionage case in which several classified documents were allegedly leaked by ministry staffers to several corporates. (AGENCIES)
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