(K Vishadev Rao)(Lucknow)
The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) expresses serious concern over reports of detention, assault, harassment, equipment seizure and obstruction faced by journalists covering the protests in New Delhi between October 10 and 15, 2026. Journalists have a constitutional and professional duty to report public events freely and without fear. Whatever the merits of a protest, no journalist should be arbitrarily detained, assaulted or prevented from doing legitimate work. IFWJ also considers the October 12 march to the Supreme Court uncalled for, as grievances over pending judicial matters should follow established legal processes. But disapproval of a protest never justifies violence, excessive force or restrictions on the press.Foundation Day event postponedIFWJ had planned to mark its Foundation Day on October 28 at Jantar Mantar, where over a thousand journalists from state units were expected. In view of the situation in the capital and advisories from Delhi Police and the Government, the central Delhi event is postponed. Foundation Day will instead be observed on October 28 at IFWJ state headquarters across India, with a consolidated national commemoration in Delhi later this year when journalists from all states can participate.Concerns arising from the protests at Jantar MantarAt least 30 journalists, including freelancers and reporters from Indian and international media, were reportedly detained by Delhi Police on October 10 – 11 despite identifying themselves as press. IFWJ seeks a public account of each detention’s legal grounds, duration and status.Protection of Women journalists: Allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation must be recorded promptly and investigated impartially and sensitively. Delay in registering FIRs for cognizable offences is a serious concern. IFWJ notes One-India journalist Richa Parashar’s complaint that she was manhandled near the Supreme Court during the October 12 march. We demand an impartial investigation, preservation of CCTV and digital evidence, and protection from retaliation. The matter must be decided on evidence and in accordance with law.Internet suspensions, transport hub closures and removal of social-media posts raise concerns about the public’s right to timely information. Any restriction must be lawful, necessary, proportionate and time-bound.Journalist Protection Act: the need of the hourIFWJ reiterates its long-standing demand for a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act. Journalists face distinct risks in performing a public function, whether reporting from protest sites, disaster zones, conflict areas, court complexes or places involving powerful political, commercial or administrative interests.The law must not create privileges at the cost of public order. It should provide a practical framework in which journalists work without arbitrary obstruction while remaining fully accountable to the law. IFWJ proposes:A clear definition of “working journalist” covering permanent, contractual, freelance, regional-language, digital and independent journalists engaged in verifiable work.Protection from assault, sexual harassment, intimidation, unlawful detention, and destruction or seizure of professional equipment.A mandatory police protocol to verify journalistic identity through institutional ID cards, press-union cards, editor certification or a national register, not PIB accreditation alone.Time-bound registration of FIRs and independent investigation where misconduct is alleged against police or political functionaries.Protection of confidential sources, subject only to constitutionally valid judicial process.Compensation, medical aid and welfare support for journalists injured, disabled or killed in the line of duty, and their families.A National Journalists Council for grievance redressal, safety measures, social security and monitoring of implementation.These protections are not charity or administrative discretion; they are essential to free expression under Article 19.Repeal of the Working Journalists Act The difficulty in distinguishing journalists from influencers is also a policy failure. For decades, the Working Journalists Act, 1955, and the Working Journalists (Fixation of Rates of Wages) Act, 1958, gave journalists a separate statutory identity and protections on wages, service conditions, leave, gratuity and recovery of dues. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, repealed both from November 21, 2025, placing journalism in a generic labour framework with no journalism-specific mechanism for wage protection, service security or grievance redressal. If the State expects police, courts and employers to tell a journalist from an influencer, it must first provide a lawful, transparent and uniform basis for doing so.National Register for Journalists (In view of the sentiments aired in the Hon’ble Supreme Court, that, “It was difficult to verify the Journalists from Reel-makers or Social Media influencers”)IFWJ has long demanded a National Register for Journalists for exactly this reason. It must not become a tool for licensing, censorship or political screening. It should be a transparent, rights-based verification system that lets legitimate journalists be recognised across states and platforms. It should include:A unique journalist identification number.Verification of engagement with a registered media organisation, press club, recognised journalists’ union, or documented independent work.Clear categories for staff journalists, freelancers, digital journalists, photojournalists, camera persons, editors and regional-language reporters.Safeguards for privacy and data protection, a right of appeal against rejection, and periodic renewal.A mechanism to stop persons engaged solely in unverified, partisan or commercial content creation from claiming journalistic protections.The register would help police, courts and government departments identify bona fide journalists without reducing press freedom to PIB accreditation. It would also address the concern raised in Supreme Court proceedings that accredited journalists, freelancers, influencers and content creators are hard to distinguish, and that different categories may need different protection.Statements from IFWJ leadershipIFWJ President Gopal Misra said the Federation has postponed its October 28 Foundation Day event at Jantar Mantar in view of the situation in Delhi and official advisories, that state units will observe the day at their headquarters, and that a national commemoration will be held later. He demanded an impartial inquiry into allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation of women journalists, prompt recording and impartial, sensitive investigation of FIRs, and prompt action on the complaint of journalist Richa Parashar, including preservation of CCTV and digital evidence and protection from retaliation. He also reiterated IFWJ’s demands for the Journalist Protection Act, repeal of the Working Journalists Act and a National Register for Journalists.Vice-Presidents Upendra Singh Rathore, Mohan Kumar, G Bhoopati and Prem Kant Tiwari said the Delhi programme has been postponed responsibly in view of official advisories, with state units observing October 28 at their headquarters and a national event to follow. Rathore demanded a fair, evidence-based investigation into Richa Parashar’s complaint. Mohan Kumar stated that the safety and dignity of women journalists are non-negotiable, and that allegations of harassment or intimidation must be recorded promptly and investigated sensitively, with the Parashar matter decided strictly on evidence and according to law. Prem Kant Tiwari said delay in registering FIRs for cognizable offences is a serious concern, that complaints by women journalists must be acted upon immediately and investigated without political influence and character assassination. Vice-President G Bhoopati said India urgently needs a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act covering print, broadcast, digital, freelance and independent journalists to safeguard them from violence, intimidation, unlawful surveillance and retaliation, and added that IFWJ also demands repeal of the outdated Working Journalists Act and a transparent National Register for Journalists to ensure recognition and welfare. He reminded us that these demands had been made in 2016 at Jaiselmer, Rajasthan by our beloved President Dr K Vikram Rao.Secretaries Parmeshwar Rao and Saurav Pattanaik echoed these demands on service conditions and recognition. Parmeshwar Rao called for repeal of the Working Journalists Act, 1955, and its replacement with a modern law reflecting today’s media realities, protecting the service conditions, wages, dignity and professional independence of all journalists, including digital, freelance and independent media workers, with effective institutional and legal safeguards. Pattanaik said a National Register for Journalists is essential for transparent recognition, welfare, insurance, safety and institutional support, and must be created through a fair, non-discretionary and rights-based process covering print, electronic, digital and independent media, urging the government to move forward without delay and without political discretion.The presidents of IFWJ’s state units announced that Foundation Day will be observed on October 28 at their respective state headquarters, noting that the central Delhi event has been postponed in view of official advisories. Delhi unit President Maroof Raza said Delhi was to host the national Foundation Day programme at Jantar Mantar, that the Delhi unit will observe the day at its headquarters, and that a safe, inclusive national commemoration will be organised later with participation from all states. The announcement was made by the units of Uttar Pradesh (Haseeb Siddiqui), Odisha (Manoj Das), Bihar (Pramod Dutta), Tripura (Bijoy Paul), Andhra Pradesh (N Eshwar Rao), Tamil Nadu (V. Selvin Vinoth Kumar), Karnataka (Shanta Kumari), Maharashtra (Mukesh Seth), also known as Mukesh Seth), Jharkhand (Bharat Bhushan), Telangana (Mamidi Somaiah), Madhya Pradesh (Salman Khan), West Bengal (Amit Rai), Assam (Namita Bora) and Uttarakhand (Arun Sharma).On the complaint of Richa Parashar, the presidents of Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Uttarakhand demanded an impartial, evidence-based investigation. Andhra Pradesh’s N Eshwar Rao sought assurance that no journalist faces retaliation for speaking truthfully. Karnataka’s Shanta Kumari said women journalists must be able to report harassment without fear, and called for prompt recording of complaints, impartial and sensitive investigation, preservation of evidence, and strong protection from retaliation, intimidation or character assassination.On the Journalist Protection Act, the presidents of Odisha, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu reiterated the demand. Odisha’s Manoj Das said the law must protect journalists from violence, intimidation and retaliation, and that the safety of journalists, especially those reporting from districts and rural areas, must become a state priority. Maharashtra’s Pankaj Verma (Mukesh Seth) said a Journalist Protection Act, as in Maharashtra should be enacted at the National level and repeal of the Working Journalists Act would ensure that every journalist receives modern legal protection, fair conditions and professional dignity. Tamil Nadu’s V. Selvin Vinoth Kumar reaffirmed IFWJ’s demands for the Act, repeal of the Working Journalists Act and a National Register for Journalists.Bihar’s Pramod Dutta and Madhya Pradesh’s Salman Khan called for a modern law recognising all forms of journalism, under which digital, freelance and independent journalists receive equal legal protection and recognition, fair wages and working conditions, job security, and protection of their professional independence and dignity.Tripura, Jharkhand and Assam voiced support for a transparent, rights-based register created without discretion. Tripura’s Bijoy Paul said it should ensure recognition, welfare support, insurance, safety measures and access to institutional assistance for journalists across all media platforms. Jharkhand’s Bharat Bhushan said journalists in remote and rural areas must receive equal protection, insurance, safety measures and institutional assistance without discrimination. Assam’s Namita Bora said the register should cover print, electronic, digital and independent media, including journalists in remote areas.IFWJ’s positionIFWJ was founded on October 28, 1950, at Jantar Mantar and has worked since for the rights, welfare and dignity of working journalists. The Central Government must move beyond advisories and assurances: enact a comprehensive Journalist Protection Act, restore a statutory framework for journalists’ service and wage security, and establish a National Register for Journalists.A democracy that expects its press to speak truth to power must first ensure that those who speak are not left unprotected.
With warm greetings of Vijayadashmi. K Vishwadev Rao Secretary General Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ)
