Mahatma Gandhi University has clarified that it has not banned journalists from entering its campus, but media personnel must now inform the public relations officer in advance and obtain permission through the university before entering, according to a statement issued by the institution on Saturday.
The clarification follows concerns raised by the university over visual media teams entering offices, including the syndicate hall in the administrative block, without the knowledge or permission of the university or the vice-chancellor. The university said some of the visits involved collecting visuals and responses on subjects that had no direct connection with the institution.
According to the statement, the prior-approval arrangement is intended to make campus entry transparent and safe, similar to the procedure followed for outside visitors. The university said unregulated visits could affect the academic atmosphere, examinations and study activities, as well as campus security.
The institution also said that responses given by individuals on unofficial matters could be wrongly interpreted by the public as the official position of the university. It said these concerns led to a note being issued to the registrar to bring clarity to the process.
Under the arrangement, journalists seeking to enter the university must inform the public relations officer beforehand. The PRO office will coordinate entry with the knowledge and permission of the university authorities, the statement said. The university added that journalists would receive necessary assistance through the PRO office when seeking official responses.
The clarification came after discussion over whether the university had imposed a restriction on journalists. The institution said there was no ban on journalists and no decision to prevent them from gathering news. It also stated that journalists could enter the campus with permission and seek official responses.
The university’s position places the public relations office at the centre of media access to the campus. In practical terms, the procedure is intended to create a formal channel for requests, identify the purpose of visits and distinguish official university responses from individual comments made within the campus.
The vice-chancellor said the university fully respects freedoms of activity permitted in a democracy and sought the cooperation of journalists to maintain a peaceful academic atmosphere. The statement did not specify a separate timeline for reviewing the arrangement or provide details of an appeal process for denied entry.
