Several journalists' associations have written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, saying there is a pattern of isolating Parliament and parliamentarians from media scrutiny.

There appears to be a general effort to restrict access to Parliament and its precincts to only a handful of journalists, they said.

The tradition of Parliament coverage has been badly jolted in the name of following Covid restrictions. The advent of the pandemic has seen unprecedented barriers on those who can access parliamentary proceedings and its work in committees, these bodies said.

It is our humble submission that the Press Advisory Committee of Lok Sabha meeting be held before the Monsoon session beginning on July 19 for disposal of pending application and it must be actively associated with the process of streamlining media access to the press gallery and the Central Hall in the Covid context. Eligibility criteria of individuals must remain unchanged.

Media coverage, it has to be appreciated, involves daily news reporting as well as contact with leading political figures for insights and analysis.

As matters stand, the press gallery capacity, even allowing for Covid restrictions, is deeply under-utilised.

The monsoon session of Parliament commence on July 19. We request you to consider our demands with sympathy in time for the forthcoming session.

We cannot but urge you also to empathise with the employment aspect. Especially regional news organisations in various languages employ journalists on a part-time basis for the coverage of Parliament. When access for parliamentary reporting and coverage is slashed, these journalists lose their jobs. Across India, journalists have been rendered unemployed in very substantial numbers on account of the pandemic, the letter said.

Mediapersons covering the Lok Sabha also expect that copies of the various bills introduced in Parliament should be uploaded immediately and replies of the ministers with transcript of question hours should also be uploaded immediately. It will greatly help journalists for accurate reporting.

We urge the Speaker to take pro-active steps to restore full access for journalists. Media passes for all categories must be restored with immediate effect and the process of renewal be started immediately, added the letter.