Amid row, J&K govt cancels allotment of premises to Kashmir Press Club

SRINAGAR –  Two days after a group of journalists “self-appointed” themselves as the “interim management” of the Kashmir Press Club (KPC), the Jammu & Kashmir government took over the press club land and building in the heart of the city and handed it over to the estates department, here on Monday.

Nine journalistic bodies in Kashmir and top journalist associations of the country had termed the “take over”  by a group of journalists led by Saleem Pandit as a “coup”.
KPC was formed in 2018 and is the largest body with at least 300 journalists as its members.
A government spokesman on Monday said the government is concerned over the “emergent situation, which has arisen due to the “unpleasant turn of events” involving “two rival warring groups using the banner of the Kashmir Press Club.”
“The factual position is that KPC as a registered body has ceased to exist and its managing body too has come to a legal closure on July 14, 2021, the date on which its tenure came to an end. In its failure to register itself under the central Societies of Registration Act, further compounded by its failure to hold elections to constitute a new managing body, some individuals of the erstwhile club have been committing illegalities on several counts, least of which are false portrayal of being owner-managers of an entity which is no longer in legal vogue,” a government statement said.
“Meanwhile some other members have created an interim body using the same banner suggesting a ‘takeover’. However, since the original KPC itself has ceased to exist as registered body, the question of any interim body is rendered infructuous. In these circumstances, issuing of notices and communication by any group using the rubric of erstwhile Kashmir Press Club is illegal,” it said.
“..In view of this aspect of the dispute and in view of the reports in social media and other sources indicating a potential law and order situation including a threat of breach of peace and the safety of bona fide journalists, an intervention has become necessary,” it added
“In view of the unpleasant developments and dissensions between various groups of journalists, it has been decided that the allotment of the premises at Polo View in view of the now deregistered Kashmir Press Club be cancelled and control of land and buildings situated at Polo View Srinagar which belongs to the Estates Department be reverted back to the said department,” it said
“The government is committed to a free and fair press and believes that journalists are entitled to all facilities, including a place for professional, educational, social, cultural, recreational and welfare activities. It also hopes that a duly registered bona fide society of all journalists shall be constituted as soon as possible and the same shall be able to approach the government for reallocation of the premises,” it added.
Last Friday the government first suspended KPCs just-issued re-registration certificate which has triggered allegations that about government was part of the “coup”.