Media Collectives Unite to Condemn ‘Excessive Force’ and ‘Highhandedness’ in UNI Eviction; Demand Accountability

New Delhi- In a unified display of outrage, two of India’s foremost media oversight bodies, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) and the Press Club of India (PCI) have issued strongly worded statements condemning the manner in which authorities executed a High Court order at the premises of United News of India (UNI) on Friday.

The collectives have raised serious concerns over the “undue haste,” “overwhelming display of force,” and alleged “manhandling” of journalists, including women staff, during the eviction carried out hours after a court ruling on a long-standing land dispute.

The incident, which unfolded at UNI’s office at 9, Rafi Marg, has drawn sharp criticism from the two organizations, who have called for restraint and accountability, warning that the action sends a “chilling message” to the media.

In a press release issued shortly after the incident, the Editors Guild of India condemned the authorities’ conduct, stating that while it does not question the need to implement the High Court’s order, the execution was marked by a “manifestly excessive display of force” and a “lack of due process.”

According to the Guild, the court order was pronounced at approximately 1:30 PM on March 20. Within hours, and before the order was made available on the court’s website, a large contingent of police and paramilitary personnel arrived at the news agency’s office.

“Journalists, including female staff, were forcibly evicted in the midst of carrying out their duties,” the EGI stated. “The journalists have asserted that no notice was shown to them, and that the authorities refused to allow time for the UNI management to arrive, or even allow journalists to collect their personal effects before the premises were sealed.”

The Guild also noted allegations that some staff, including women journalists, were manhandled a charge the Delhi Police have denied. The EGI urged authorities to “exercise greater restraint, and desist from actions which restrict the freedom of media to operate and carry out its functions in a democracy.”

The statement was signed by EGI President Sanjay Kapoor, General Secretary Raghavan Srinivasan, and Treasurer Teresa Rehman.

Echoing similar sentiments, the Press Club of India (PCI) expressed “deep shock” at the incident, describing the police action as “highhandedness unleashed on the journalists including women workers.”

In a statement released by PCI President Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, the Club emphasized that the right to work is a constitutional right, and that authorities should have shown restraint, particularly since the journalists on duty had informed officials that the management had not yet conveyed instructions to vacate following the court order.

“Several journalists have stated that they were physically removed by Delhi Police and CRPF personnel from their workplace by use of force and not even allowed to pick up their personal belongings,” the PCI statement read.

The Press Club urged authorities to take “prompt action against whoever was responsible for such misconduct,” asserting that accountability would help “instill confidence within the journalist fraternity that right to work of the press is an important part of a democracy.”