On Friday 20th March 2026, the Delhi Police sealed the office of news agency United News of India (UNI) at 9 Rafi Marg for allegedly violating the conditions of its land allotment of government land for the development of a composite office complex for media institutions. This followed a High Court Order that upheld the decision of the Land and Development Office (L&DO) to cancel the allotment of government land to UNI.

The matter has been under jurisdiction for several decades, during which the UNI went into dissolution and was later taken over by Statesman Private Limited. While the judicial process has taken its course leading to the recent High Court order, what has been extremely disturbing is the manner in which the police force behaved with the journalists who were present at the office.

The move to clear the UNI premises on that day itself’ saw the police act in a manner that according to those present was high-handed, rough and undignified. Women journalists present were not spared either, it is said.

While the legalities of the case and the decision of the High Court are in the public domain and understandably follow a trajectory, it is shocking that the newsroom of one of the oldest and most respected media institutions in the national capital is witness to such scenes.

These diminish the institution, endanger freedom of the press and can be seen as a lapse particularly with regard to the safety and dignity of women in the profession.

Today news organisations that have upheld professional standards and provided livelihood to journalists are increasingly finding it hard to raise resources and function in an environment that belittles their role as the 4th pillar in our democratic structure.  This is unfortunate.

It is imperative that a solution be found within the ambit of the law that enables UNI to regain its stature as a news organisation that upholds the highest standards of professionalism. This would require clear intent and action by the state as well as the media institution itself to adhere to the legal and ethical principles of the matter.

The IWPC stands with all those who have borne the brunt of the police action on Friday night and calls for restraint as well as respect by administration and law agencies in dealing with journalists and media institutions.