New Delhi: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the global media safety and rights body, has expressed concern over the sealing of the office of United News of India (UNI), one of the country’s oldest news agencies, in New Delhi on Friday, and urged the concerned authorities to reconsider the decision.
According to local media outlets, the closure of the UNI office has raised serious concerns over press freedom in the world’s largest democracy. It was also reported that some staff members on duty were forcibly evicted, and even female journalists faced manhandling by a team of Delhi police personnel.
The action followed an order from the Delhi High Court, which upheld the cancellation of the land allotment to UNI for failing to meet 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 that the office building be erected within a stipulated time period, which was never realized.
As a result, the government cancelled the allotment in March 2023. The aggrieved party challenged the cancellation in court but ultimately did not receive a favorable ruling.
A notice pasted on the UNI office states that the premises were 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 authorization is strictly prohibited and will invite legal action, the notice added.
“It’s unfortunate that a pioneer news agency, founded in 1961, is facing such treatment in India. However, the UNI management had to follow the prescribed regulations. Since digital media has overtaken traditional news outlets, a trend aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic, news agencies needed a complete revamp in their functioning. Probably the UNI management failed to address these challenges,” said Nava Thakuria, South Asia representative of PEC.
A number of social media posts described the action as highly unfortunate for press freedom in India. Police personnel, arriving in large numbers, reportedly ‘stormed, seized, and silenced’ the UNI office in the capital city, treating media professionals almost like wanted criminals. “They could have been asked to vacate the office first, and then the campus could have been locked,” added Thakuria, “but this was not done.”