The joint memorandum said it was found that the DPDP Act comes directly against the journalists’ fundamental right to work granted by Article 19 (1) (a) and (g) of the Constitution.
New Delhi: The Press Club of India (PCI), in association with 21 press bodies and over 1,000 journalists and photo journalists from across the country, has raised concerns about the provisions of the Data Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023 after concluding that they are against the journalists’ fundamental right to work.
The PCI along with the other press bodies and journalists has submitted a joint memorandum to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the minister for Electronics and Information and Broadcasting, urging him to keep the professional work of journalists across print, online and electronic media, outside the scope of the DPDP Act, said the PCI in a press release issued on June 25.
The release added that the concerns expressed in the memorandum were put together by the PCI after a close study of various definitions and provisions of the Act with legal and personal data experts. It was found that the Act comes directly against the journalists’ fundamental right to work granted by Article 19 (1) (a) and (g) of the Constitution.
In the memorandum, the 22 press bodies located in various states expressed deep concern at the Ministry bringing journalistic work under its ambit, even though it was kept out at the drafting stage of the Bill.
The joint memorandum for the minister in-charge was submitted through Dhirendra Ojha, the principal director general, Press Information Bureau (PIB) in New Delhi by PCI president Gautam Lahiri and secretary general Neeraj Thakur.
“We submitted the memorandum yesterday through PDG and sought an appointment with the minister for clarification. The office of the PDG has confirmed that the memorandum has been sent to the minister’s office. The PDG has promised to convey our message about the appointment to him. We are awaiting his answer, and hope the honourable minister will hear our arguments seeking the professional work of the journalists outside the purview of the Act. and clear the misgivings,” Lahiri said.
The memorandum is part of a signature campaign initiated by the PCI in May, 2025, to press on the Ministry to bring about the crucial change in the Act, so that it doesn’t hamper the work of reporters and photo journalists across print, online and electronic media.
The 22 press bodies which supported the campaign include the Press Club of India, Press Club of Hyderabad, State Press Club, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi Union of Journalists, Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Association, Kerala Union of Working Journalists, Working News Cameramen’s Association, Mumbai Press Club, Press Club, Jammu, Kerala Press Club, Delhi 12) Indian Journalists Union, Press Club, Kolkata, Press Club, Bangalore, Gauhati Press Club, Shillong Press Club, Chennai Press Club, Pink City Press Club, Jaipur, Chandigarh Press Club, Press Club Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), Arunachal Press Club, Itanagar and Agartala Press Club.
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