IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM PRESENT : THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE S.SIRI JAGAN TUESDAY, THE 14TH JUNE 2011 / 24TH JYAISHTA 1933 WP(C).No. 7364 of 2007(B) --------------------------------------- PETITIONER(S): ----------------------- 1. THOMAS JOSEPH, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PRADEEPAM DAILY, RESIDING AT 178 TRA, THOZHUVANCODE, VATTIYOORCAVU P.O., THIRUVANANTHAPURAM-13. 2. DR.A.V.PRAKASH, CHIEF EDITOR, PRADEEPAM DAILY, S.M.STREET, CALICUT. BY ADV. SRI.P.C.SASIDHARAN RESPONDENT(S): ---------------------------- 1. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, SECRETRIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. 2. THE DIRECTOR, INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, SECRETRIAT, GOVERNMENT SECRETRIAT, THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. R1 & R2 BY GOVERNMENT PLEADER SRI. ANTONY MUKKATH THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING BEEN FINALLY HEARD ON 14/06/2011,THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING: Kss WPC.NO.7364/2007 B APPENDIX PETITIONER'S EXHIBITS: P1: COPY OF THE G.O.(P) NO.9/2000/PR DTD. 08/12/2000. P2: C.O.(MS) NO.2/2004/I&PR DTD. 22/01/2004. P3: COPY OF THE PRESS ACCREDITATION CARD ISSUED TO THE 1ST PETITIONER. P4: COPY OF THE LETTER ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT DTD. 26/12/2006. P5: COPY OF THE INFORMATION FURNISHED BY THE PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU, NEW DELHI DTD. 20/06/2008. RESPONDENT'S EXHIBITS: N I L /TRUE COPY/ P.S.TO JUDGE Kss S. Siri Jagan, J. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= W.P(C) No. 7364 of 2007 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dated this, the 14th day of June, 2011. J U D G M E N T The 1st petitioner is a journalist and the 2nd petitioner is the Chief Editor of a daily by name “Pradeepam”, which operates from Calicut and Kochi, who employs the 1st petitioner as a correspondent of the daily. The matter relates to accreditation of the 1st petitioner as a journalist by the Government. The Government have framed Ext. P1 rules for accreditation of persons representing daily newspapers, news agencies, print, visual, audio and other electronic media. By Ext. P2, an amendment was brought in by introducing a new clause 13(i)(e), wherein a restriction of age, namely, 60 years, has been brought in for accreditation of journalist by the Government. The petitioners challenge the same seeking the following reliefs: “i) To declare that the clause 13(i)(e) inserted by the Government as per Ext. P2 insofar as it disqualify a person to get accreditation as journalist if he completes the age of 60 as unconstitutional and void; ii) issue a writ of certiorari, writ, order or direction to the respondents and quash Ext. P4; iii) issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction commanding and compelling the respondents to renew the accreditation of the 1st petitioner as journalist attached to the 2nd petitioner.” 2. After arguing for some time, the learned counsel for the petitioners confines his prayer for an opportunity to approach the Government with an appropriate representation against the said W.P(C) No. 7364 of 2007 -: 2 :- clause insofar as, as evidenced by Ext. P5 supplied by the Press Information Bureau, the Press Council of India gives accreditation to journalists above 60 years also. In view of the above request, this writ petition is closed without prejudice to the right of the petitioners to take up the matter appropriately with the Government. Sd/- S. Siri Jagan, Judge. Tds/