The Telangana High Court on Thursday directed that all existing media accreditation cards will remain valid until June 16, 2026, pending adjudication of writ petitions challenging the state's new accreditation rules.
Interim Order by Division Bench
A division bench comprising Justices P Sam Koshy and Narsing Rao Nandikonda passed the interim order while hearing petitions filed by four media associations. The court took note of the state government's submission that it had already decided to extend the validity of existing accreditation cards till May 31, 2026, to prevent disruption to journalists' professional activities.
Court's Observations
The court observed that the cards were originally set to expire on April 30 and had already been extended by a month. Considering the ensuing summer vacation and the state's failure to file its counter affidavit despite earlier directions, the bench further extended the validity of all existing accreditation cards till the next date of hearing on June 16.
This interim relief comes as a significant development for journalists in Telangana, who were facing uncertainty over the validity of their accreditation under the new rules. The matter will be heard next on June 16, 2026.
