New Delhi, March 21, KNT: The office of United News of India (UNI) in the national capital was sealed by authorities following a court order upholding cancellation of its land allotment, officials said.
The action was carried out after the Delhi High Court dismissed UNI’s plea challenging eviction and allowed the government to take possession of the premises located on Rafi Marg.
The development stems from a long-running dispute over a plot allotted to UNI in 1979, which came with the condition that the news agency would construct an office building within a stipulated timeframe.
According to court observations, UNI failed to develop the land for more than four decades despite being granted multiple extensions, effectively leaving valuable public land unused.
The court ruled that the allotment was conditional and not equivalent to ownership, and that failure to comply with its terms justified cancellation. It further emphasised that public land must be utilised for its intended purpose and cannot remain idle indefinitely.
Following the verdict, the Land & Development Office initiated proceedings to reclaim the property, with Delhi Police sealing the premises to enforce the order.
Officials said the action was taken in accordance with legal directives and under administrative supervision.
UNI, however, criticized the move, calling it an “attack on press freedom” and alleging that its staff were forcibly evicted from the premises. The agency also claimed that some employees, including women staff members, were mishandled during the operation.
Authorities have denied the allegations, maintaining that due process was followed and the sealing was conducted lawfully in compliance with the court’s instructions.
The case has drawn attention within media circles, with concerns raised over the implications for press institutions operating on government-allotted land, though legal experts note that the dispute primarily centres on land use compliance rather than editorial activity.
The sealing of the UNI office marks a significant development in the decades-old case, underscoring the enforcement of land-use conditions tied to institutional allotments in the capital. [KNT]
The sealing of the office of United News of India (UNI), one of the country’s oldest and most respected news agencies, has raised serious concerns over press freedom.
📌 Staff members were forcibly evicted, with several not allowed to retrieve their personal belongings.
— United News of India (@uniindianews) March 20, 2026
