After heavy backlash, CEO Doda clarifies on Media Access Order | But who will decide..!

CEO Doda clarifies on Media Access Order

Dil Bar Irshad | August 2, 2025 | Breaking News, Doda, Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh | Follow on Google News

After heavy backlash, CEO Doda clarifies on Media Access Order | But who will decide..!

Amid mounting criticism and heavy backlash, the Office of the Chief Education Officer Doda today issued a corrigendum revising and amending its earlier directive that restricted mediapersons, NGOs, and private agencies from entering government schools without written permission/approval from the competent authority.

Now, the Office on Saturday issued a clarification (No. CEO/D/Estt./6209-6383 dated 02.08.2025), specifying that the word “media” in the earlier order should now be read as “unregistered and unauthorized media.”

“The intent of the order is not to restrict the activities of registered and authorized media organizations,” the corrigendum states, “but to regulate unsolicited visits by individuals or agencies claiming media identity without due authorization, which may cause disruption to academic activities and compromise school discipline and privacy,” reads the corrigendum.

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The earlier directive received heavy backlash and criticism from journalists, activists, and politicians, labeling it as silencing the voice of the voiceless. The timing of the order was also questioned, as recent reports regarding dilapidated infrastructure, shortage of teachers, and lack of basic facilities by mediapersons in Doda have exposed the education system openly—issues that need to be fixed as soon as possible so that the precious time of students is not wasted.

Instead of rectifying the flaws, the directive was aimed at hiding the reality, argued critics. It has been stated document be read out in staff meetings and displayed prominently on school notice boards. Non-compliance by heads of institutions may invite disciplinary action, as per departmental norms.

Now, even if this order is read with amendments, who will decide the unauthorized and unregistered media bodies/persons? Who is going to identify the unauthorized and unregistered media?

Last year, the District Administration Doda issued a directive for submitting outlet details and journalist credentials to the concerned office for verification.

While this is a genuine issue—there are also black sheep in the media who are neither registered nor authorized—it seems to fall within the purview of the Jammu and Kashmir government. Either the district administration should issue a list of registered mediapersons, as the documents were already submitted to the information wing of Doda district.

As mushroom media has grown rapidly, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recognize who qualifies as real, registered, and authorized media persons or bodies. It’s the exact time to act…!