By our correspondent, Gandhinagar, 1 March 2013

Gujarat Assembly Speaker has banned the entry of video cameras of private news TV channels inside the assembly building from 4th of March 2013.

Taking visuals through camera inside the assembly house is banned already, and only government cameras captures the proceedings – just to relay it live to selected offices inside the assembly building, including the office of Chief Minister, Leader of opposition, Speaker and media room. Private TV channel cameras sometime capture the visuals of proceedings from these TV sets. Private channel cameras also capture visuals of opposition MLAs coming out of the assembly house shouting slogans against the government. Private channel cameras shoot bytes of Leader of opposition and opposition MLAs in party office located inside the assembly building.

However, now all this will become past, because in an order, the Speaker has asked news channels that pass holder representatives of news channels will not be allowed to enter the assembly complex with camera. Camera persons will be allowed to take bytes of office bearers and members only outside the building near Swami Vivekananda statue.

The Speaker in his order said that in past notices were served to news channels when they relayed house proceedings live breaching the orders.

Correspondent Anil Pathak adds:

A group of private channel videographers registered their protest to the Speaker Vajubhai vala who directed them to meet the secretary D M Patel for the decision taken by the assembly secretariat.When contacted Patel said that the videographers would be allowed in the downstairs podium and take live talk show or other interviews of the MLAs and the Ministers. But they will be not allowed in the premises. Such arrangements are already existing in Lok sabha and other state assemblies and as per the rules similar arrangements are made at the main entrance of the exhibition hall on first floor of the assembly building.

The assembly secretariat would allow videographers and cameramen of the Doordarshan and the state information department as and when required particularly during budget day and the inaugural session of the house when the Governor addresses the members and brief them about the performance of the government.

State assembly Secretariat has also not issued any new entry passes for journalists for the coverage of assembly proceedings.The journalists who have been accredited by the state government are allowed for the coverage of the proceedings.

In another decision assembly secretariat has as per the rules started serving tea biscuits and other food stuff in the lounge of MLAs but not hot food as was done earlier. A private caterer was given the contract for hot snacks but now the earlier arrangement has been discontinued.