http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article-southasia.asp?parentid=110806
INDIA: Speaker imposes media curbs on Assembly premises Legislative Assembly speaker says due to complaints, videographers and photographers are limited to the media point in the Assembly room The Times of India Friday, July 24, 2009 Hyderabad --- Legislative Assembly Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday imposed restrictions on all live transmissions from the premises, except for the live telecast of the House proceedings. Addressing the media, a day before the start of the budget session, the Speaker said several regulations were put in place for the budget session by limiting visitors and media personnel on the premises in the wake of a renewed security measure. Stating that regulatory measures were inevitable for the smooth conduct of proceedings, the Speaker said several legislators had complained to him on their restricted movement in the Assembly premises due to the massive presence of electronic media personnel at the entrance. "We have restricted all videographers and photographers to the newly created media point on the Assembly premises," he said. Reddy said regulations were imposed on media after referring the matter to the advisory committees on security and media, which recommended streamlining the number of media personnel and visitors to the Assembly. "Henceforth, all visitors to the Assembly and the Council would be issued photo ID cards", the Speaker said and added that passes to media personnel were also cut down to 375 against the earlier number of 1,100. He asked all media personnel to extend their best co-operation for the smooth functioning of the Assembly. The Speaker also urged all members, including ministers to use the media point to reach out to the general public. "The chief minister has already assured that he would not receive any delegation or petitions when the House is in session. I too have requested all ministers to avoid holding review meetings when the session is in progress. Similarly, I request all TV channels which record press meets, personal views or other programmes, on the premises while the House is in session, to air it only after the House is adjourned for the day," he said. Responding to a query, the Speaker said that people have a right to know what their representatives are doing in the Assembly. "We have made arrangements for nearly 80 channels for telecasting the proceedings," he said. Date Posted: 7/24/2009
