IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) MONDAY, THE TWENTY FIRST DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND FIVE PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE L.NARASIMHA REDDY WRIT PETITION NO : 1813 of 2005 Between: 1 Fameen Durrani W/o.Sri N.K.Durrani, Muslim R/o.28-3-9, Durrani Lane, Mosque Street, kakinada, E.G.District. 2 Chetana, S/o.Sri Elle Veerraju, Hindu, Telugu Daily, R/o.13-5-3, Ramasomayajulu Street, Kakinada, E.G.District. 3 Kommana Satish, S/o.Sri K.B.R.Murthy, Hindu, R/o.2-32-7, Srinagar, Kakinada, E.G.District. ..... PETITIONER(S) AND 1 The Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Dept., A.P.Samachar Bhavan, Masabtank, Hyderabad. 2 The District Collector and Chairman, District Media Accreditation Committee (DMAC), East Godavari at Kakinada-533001. 3 The District Public Relations officer and the Convenor, District Media Accreditation Committee (DMAC), Ramaraopet, Kakinada, E.G.District. .....RESPONDENT(S) Petition under Article 226 of the constitution of India praying that in the circumstances stated in the Affidavit filed herein the High Court will be pleased to issue an appropriate writ, order or direction, more particularly one in the nature of writ of mandamus declaring the action of the respondents in not renewing the press Accreditation cards of the 1st and 2nd petitioners for the year 2004 and 2005 and of the 3rd petitioner for the year 2005 as illegal, arbitrary and unjust and consequently direct the respondents to grant press Accreditation cards to the petitioners forthwith and to pass such other order or orders as this Hon'ble court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case. Counsel for the Petitioners:MR.N.SIVA REDDY Counsel for the Respondents: GP FOR GENERAL ADMINISTRATION The Court made the following : ORDER: Petitioners state that they have been granted accreditation as news reporters by the competent authority in the East Godavari District, in the year 2003. They claim to have submitted applications of renewal in December 2004. Their grievance is that no action has been taken thereon and they are disabled to function as news reporters, on account of the delay in disposal of the applications. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and the learned Government Pleader for GAD. The Government of A.P., framed the Andhra Pradesh Media Accreditation Rules 1999, and the same were published in G.O.Ms.No.176, dated 07.04.1999. The rules provided for constitution of a committee to consider the applications and grant of accreditation to eligible persons. The accreditation so given is to remain in force, for a period of one year under Rule 4 (g). The petitioners were given accreditation, which was valid up to December 2003. Thereafter, the petitioners claim to have submitted applications for renewal of their accreditation. The accreditation of an individual as a news reporter carries with it certain privileges in the matter of news reporting and other related activities. The petitioners were already given accreditation up to December 2003. Their applications need to be considered by the appropriate authority and orders need to be passed thereon without any delay. The reasons for not passing any orders on the applications filed by the petitioners are not before this Court. Be that as it may, the writ petition is disposed of directing that the respondents shall pass appropriate orders on the applications filed by the petitioners for renewal of accreditation, within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If any further information is needed from the petitioners, the same shall be intimated to them. There shall be no order as to costs. ______________________ L.NARASIMHA REDDY, J Dated : 21.02.2005 Note: Furnish copy in three days (B/o) Ts To 1 The Commissioner, Information and Public Relations Dept., A.P.Samachar Bhavan, Masabtank, Hyderabad. 2 The District Collector and Chairman, District Media Accreditation Committee (DMAC), East Godavari at Kakinada-533001. 3 The District Public Relations officer and the Convenor, District Media Accreditation Committee (DMAC), Ramaraopet, Kakinada, E.G.District. 4 2 CCs to the Government Pleader for GAD, High Court Buildings, Hyderabad. (OUT) 5 2CD copies.