NEW DELHI: The Standing Committee of All-India Newspaper Editors’ Conference [condemned] the action taken by Government against [some] newspapers.

Regarding the Government order imposing pre-censorship on the ‘Amritabazar Patrika’ in respect of news and articles relating to the famine situation, the Committee [believes that] the action taken was entirely uncalled for and in ignoring the recommendation of the Bengal Press Advisory Committee, Government have taken a needlessly alarmist view of the articles, which in the opinion of the Committee reflect a very general feeling in the country and call attention to a very real danger which it is the duty of all concerned to consider seriously and do everything in their power to provide against...

The order of the Central Provinces Government in demanding from the editor of the ‘Hitavada’ the source of his information in regard to the publication of a news item concerning the resignation of the Chief Secretary to the Bengal Government, the Committee thinks, is an unwarranted interference with the well-established convention governing the relations between an editor and his correspondents.

The Committee further objects to the use of the Defence of India Rules to compel an editor to disclose the source of his information.

Published in Dawn, November 7th, 2018