New Delhi, March 20 – The office of United News of India (UNI), located in central Delhi, was the scene of a commotion on Friday evening as police officials, accompanied by lawyers and female personnel, moved to enforce a Delhi High Court order restricting the use of the premises in anticipation of its sealing due to alleged violations.
Images circulating on social media showed police personnel escorting UNI staff out of the premises, even as some employees sought clarification.
The news agency, which came under new management after emerging from bankruptcy proceedings last year, criticized the action in a post on social media.
“The sealing of the United News of India (UNI) office, one of the country’s oldest news agencies, has raised concerns about press freedom,” the post said.
According to sources, aware of the developments, the police action to vacate the premises was based on a court order in a matter related to alleged violation of the terms under which the new management was granted possession of the property located on Rafi Marg.
“The Delhi High Court upheld the cancellation of land allotment made in favor of UNI,” a source said.
The court, while dismissing UNI’s petition, observed that the March 29, 2023 cancellation order issued by the Land and Development Office (L&DO) was “fully justified and legally inevitable” in the facts of the case, the source added.
Some employees said they were not given adequate time to respond, while a police official said the management was aware of the court developments prior to the arrival of the eviction team.
UNI, founded in 1959, has its headquarters in a multi-acre British-era bungalow on Rafi Marg in the national capital, near Patel Chowk Metro station.