The Hindu Business Line : I&B Ministry not to allow IHT publication

THE Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has decided not to permit the publication of International Herald Tribune (IHT) by the Hyderabad-based Midram Publication Private Ltd. It has written to Midram Publication and IHT, Hong Kong, in this regard.

Sources in the I&B Ministry said that the publication of IHT violates the norms prescribed for syndication arrangement by newspapers, apart from going against the 1955 Cabinet Resolution wherein foreign newspapers and periodicals dealing with news and current affairs are not to be allowed to bring out Indian editions.

"According to the guidelines for syndication, the total material printed in an issue of the Indian publication should not exceed 7.5 per cent of the total printed area and the masthead of the content provider's publication must not be utilised in the Indian publication," said sources.

The letter to the Asia Pacific Managing Director of IHT also categorically states that the existing policy does not allow reprinting of foreign newspapers in India. The Government has asked IHT to stop supplying content/material used for bringing out the Indian version.

Top Ministry sources acknowledged that they had been kept in the dark and the Registrar of Newspapers in India (RNI) had not closely scrutinised the IHT application. Midram Publication had registered the title with the RNI.

IHT, priced at Rs 30, is being printed and published in India by T. Venkattram Reddy on behalf of Midram Publication at the Deccan Chronicle Press. Mr M.J. Akbar is the editor of the 20-page Indian version of the newspaper.

This is not the first time that IHT has attempted to foray into the Indian market. About two years ago, the company had sought Government permission to come out as a pull-out with another Indian daily. The Government had rejected this proposal, stating that it was against the print media policy. Later, Asian Age came out with a weekend supplement of The New York Times, against which the Ministry sent a notice. Asian Age, subsequently, obtained a stay from the Bombay High Court.

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