3 October 2019: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) expressed its grave concern over the cancellation of the registration of the 'Daily Desher Katha' second largest circulated daily in Tripura by the Registrar of Newspapers India (RNI) within hours of issuing fresh registration as there was change of management, leading to its closure. According to reports, the District Magistrate of the West Tripura district has cancelled the declaration issued by the Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Sadar on 1 October, on the same day and advised the RNI to cancel the registration. The RNI which issued the fresh certificate to the new owner cancelled it within hours.

Plain reading of the Press Registration Act 1867 does not give the District Magistrate to review the declaration authenticated by the concerned Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM). Any complaint against the authentication has to go to the RNI and the Appellate Tribunal headed by the Chairman of the Press Council of India (PCI).

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) President S N Sinha and Secretary-General Amar Devulapalli said the cancellation of the registration of the Daily Desher Katha, owned by the CPI (M), was politically motivated. "The District Magistrate of West Tripura district by his action had closed down a newspaper which is critical of the present government throwing out hundreds of working journalists and non-journalist employees. We feel it is an attack on the freedom of the press. It is surprising that the RNI cancelled its registration on technical grounds within hours after giving it.

The IJU demanded that the RNI should restore the registration of the Daily Desher Katha immediately without succumbing to political pressure.