PEC is worried about the UNI office in Delhi being sealed

The international organization for media safety and rights, Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), has expressed worry about the sealing of United News of India’s (UNI), one of the nation’s oldest news organizations, New Delhi office on Friday and has asked the relevant parties to reevaluate the decision. The closure of the UNI office sparked grave worries about journalistic freedom in the world’s largest democracy, according to local media outlets. Additionally, it was stated that a group of Delhi police officers manhandled female journalists and forcibly removed some on-duty staff members.

The action was taken following an order from Delhi high court as it upheld the cancellation of the land allotment to the UNI for failing the condition to construct a composite office complex for the news agency and a few other media bodies. The particular plot of land, measuring around 5,289 square meters at 9, Rafi Marg, was allotted to the UNI management in December 1979 with the condition to erect the office building within a stipulated time period, but it was never realized.

So the government cancelled the permits in March 2023. The aggrieved party challenged the cancellation in the court, but finally it did not receive any positive direction. A notice pasted on the UNI office reads that the premises was taken over by the Union government in New Delhi on 20 March 2026 following the court ruling. Any entry, occupation, or use of the premises by any person without authorisation was also strictly prohibited which would invite legal actions, added the notice.

“It’s unfortunate that a pioneer news agency (which was founded in 1961) is facing such treatments in India. However, the UNI management had to follow the prescribed regulations. Since the digital media overpowers the traditional news outlets, which was aggravated after the Covid-19 pandemic, the news agencies needed a complete revamps in its functioning. Probably the UNI management failed to deal with challenges,” said Nava Thakuria, south Asia representative of PEC (Press Emblem Campaign).