MUMBAI: Maharashtra industries minister Subhash Desai has appealed to all housing societies to allow distribution of newspapers directly to the doorstep of readers’ homes. In a statement issued here on Monday, Desai said that after the initial lockdown, the state had begun the unlocking process ‘Mission Begin Again’- which allowed the distribution of newspapers at the readers’ threshold (doorstep delivery) – but in spite of that, some housing societies were still reportedly refusing to allow newspaper distribution to their members’ homes. In this regard, he said that “the Central government as well as the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association has appealed to all organisations and federations not to obstruct the distribution of newspapers. Newspapers are a reliable medium for the citizens to decide what is true and what is false in the fraternity of media at large, so all housing societies are requested to cooperate for the distribution of newspapers.”Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had, in a address to citizens, made a special mention of allowing door-to-door delivery of newspapers, as had the government’s Unlock notification of June 6.Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association chairman Ramesh Prabhu had said that home delivery of newspapers is an essential service that should not face any hindrance. He had said, “It has come to our notice that there are some housing societies and Resident Welfare Associations which are not allowing distribution of newspapers to their residents. This is wrong and not legal. In these times of acute disinformation, it is newspapers that bring credibility and uphold the right of information of the people.”Union information and broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar also said late last week that it was not correct for any entities including any Resident Welfare Association to stop the door-to-door delivery of newspapers. He mentioned in an interview that he reads 20 newspapers every day…and that he has not seen any special problem with newspapers. “Therefore, if some RWAs and others are stopping newspapers, it is not correct – they should allow people to make their choice, and read or not to read and what to read,” he said.
Lawyers have also been emphasising the fact that circulation and distribution of newspapers is an inseparable and essential part of dissemination of information and is protected by both Article 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g)of the Constitution of India guaranteeing right to free speech and profession, respectively. They have pointed out that the only method to achieve dissemination of ideas and information is by circulation of the newspaper.
