Telangana HC pulls up govt over delay in renewing media accreditation cards

The Telangana High Court on Thursday expressed concern over the delay in renewing accreditation cards for working journalists, noting that the issue was affecting scribes across the State. The Bench questioned the government’s approach of seeking details only from petitioners, stressing that the matter concerned the entire accredited journalist community.

Hyderabad: Justice T. Madhavi Devi and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court on Thursday expressed concern over the delay in renewal and extension of Working Journalists’ Accreditation Cards issued by the State Information and Public Relations Department, observing that the issue was affecting journalists across Telangana.

The vacation Division Bench was hearing a batch of petitions filed by the Telangana Urdu Working Journalists’ Federation and other journalist associations, which complained that despite earlier assurances given by the State government, the renewal process had not been completed, resulting in difficulties for accredited journalists.

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Appearing for the State, Special Government Pleader Rahul Reddy informed the Bench that the validity of media accreditation cards would be extended till June 16, 2026, and submitted that the necessary orders in this regard would be issued by the evening.

The matter had earlier come up for hearing on May 14, when the petitioners brought to the notice of the Court that journalists holding accreditation cards were facing hardships due to non-renewal of the cards.

During Thursday’s hearing, the authorities informed the Court that they had sought a list from the petitioners containing details of journalists requiring extension of accreditation. The Bench, however, questioned the approach adopted by the authorities and observed that the issue was not confined to the petitioners alone, but concerned the entire accredited journalist community in the State.

The Court remarked that calling for particulars only from the petitioners was not appropriate when the extension issue affected all journalists holding accreditation cards.

The Bench further reminded the authorities that an undertaking had earlier been given before a Division Bench that the extension of accreditation cards would continue till June 16, 2026.