Keralam minister Roji M John demands withdrawal of MGU order restricting journalists' campus access

Keralam Higher Education Minister Roji M. John on Saturday demanded the immediate withdrawal of a Mahatma Gandhi University order requiring journalists to obtain prior permission from the vice-chancellor to enter the campus and gather news, describing it as an "attack on press freedom". In a Facebook post, John said the reported restriction was contrary to the freedom of the press, an integral part of the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

The minister's remarks came amidst media reports suggesting that the university had made prior approval from the Vice-Chancellor mandatory for journalists visiting the campus for news gathering and reporting. As per the reports, the Registrar's office issued the order following directions from the Vice-Chancellor.

Also read UGC helpline for reporting sexual harassment defunct from the start but listed on Saksham portal

The minister said such restrictions deprived the public of its right to know and compromised transparency in the functioning of public institutions, besides challenging constitutional values. Universities were meant to be centres of independent thinking and democratic discourse, and curbs on media access to such institutions reflected authoritarian tendencies, he said.

John said any attempt to undermine press freedom would be strongly resisted and called on the university authorities to revoke the order without delay. He further said the government would not permit such measures at any higher education institution in Keralam, including the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam district. The university authorities are yet to respond to the minister's remarks.