 RULES FOR ACCREDITATION OF
 CORRESPONDENTS REPRESENTING
 NEWSPAPERS OF PRESS AGENCIES

1. These rules apply to the accreditation at the headquarters of the Government of India of correspondents representing newspapers or press agencies.

2. An application for accreditation should be submitted by the editor of the newspaper or agency concerned to the Principal Information Officer, Government of India, New Delhi. Full details about the professional experience of the correspondent should be furnished with the application for accreditation. The Principal Information Officer will refer the application to the Central Press Accreditation Committee for their advice.

3. The correspondent should fulfil the following conditions for accreditation:-

(i) His residence should be at the Headquarters of the Government of India during the period of accreditation;

(ii) He should be a working journalist and employed whole time as a correspondent; and

(iii) At the time of application, he should have spent five years in the profession of journalism and/or should be a person of sufficient experience and standing to be able to discharge his duties in a competent and responsible manner.

In case of agencies, the factors to be taken into consideration in accreditation are

(a) Type of the newspaper;

(b) Periodicity and regularity of publication;

(d) Influence and circulation of the newspaper.

4. In the case of agencies, the factors to be taken

(a) Type of the agency;

(b) Method of distribution of its services; and

5. In the case of newspapers, the factors to be taken into consideration for accreditation are

(a) Type of the newspaper;

(b) Periodicity and regularity of publication, preference being given to dailies and;

6. In determining the number of accredited coorresponds for a newspaper or agency the character and volume of coverage required and the service limitations of the Press Information Bureau will be taken into account. Normally, any newspaper including a newspaper published from more than one Centre or a newspaper group will be entitled to the accredited Correspondent.

7. A press card will be issued to each accredited correspondent Admission to special functions including press conferences, however, will be governed by invitation.

8. Accreditation is personal and not transferrable.

9. Accreditation does not confer any official status on the correspondent Government meraly recognises that hp represents the newspaper or the, agency which employs him. He should not have letter, heads and visiting cards with the words "Accredited to the Government of India".

10. When a correspondent ceases to represent the newspapers or the agency or behalf of which he is accredited, the fact should be brought to the notice of the Principal Information Officer in writing by the correspondent as well as by the Editor concerned within 15 days. Failing this, facilities accorded to the newspaper may, without following the procedure prescribed in rule 12(ii) be withdrawn by the Principal Information Officer and the action communicated to the Central Press Accreditation Committee for information.

11. The list of accredited representatives will be subject to review, preferably every six months, by the Principal information Officer in consultation with the Central Press Accreditation Committee in the light of demands for accreditation from various sections of the Press and the facilities availed of by these already accredited.

12. (i) A representative. will be liable to disaccreditation if

(a) He uses for non-journalistic purpose information and facilities accorded to him as an accredited correspondent or publishes official Secrets the inviolability of which is accepted by genera understanding and each case is accepted by the Central Press Accreditation Committee after hearing the correspondent concerned;

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(b) In the course of his duties; he behaves in an undignified or unprofessional manner;

(c) He ignores or violates the conditions on which information and facilities are provided by Government or acts contrary to any provision of these rules. Provided that if the newspaper is responsible, and not the correspondent, for the wilful publication of false, malafide and incorrect reports or abuse of confidence, the newspaper concerned will be liable to disaccreditation.

(ii) Action under rule 12(i) will be taken by the Principal Information Officer in consultation wtih the Central Press Accreditation Committee after the matter has been reported to the Editor of the newspaper or news agency concerned.

13. In emergent cases, Government will be free to take any action warranted by circumstances In matters relating to accreditation and dis-accreditation.

14. These rules came into effect from November, 1956, and supersedes the earlier rules for accreditation of Press correspondents representing newspapers, news agencies, etc.

RULES FOR ACCREDITATION OF CORRESPONDENTS REPRESENTING NEWSPAPERS OF PRESS AGENCIES