The Information and Broadcasting Ministry directed its senior officials and personnel in other departments to avoid talking to media persons without authorisation from competent authorities, The Times of India reported on Tuesday. The circular was issued shortly after Smriti Irani was inducted into the I&B ministry.

The ministry said it had noticed that its officials were speaking to the press without authorisation. It asked them to direct media representatives to the Press Information Bureau or seek the permission of the minister or the secretary of their department, The Times of India reported.

The two-month-old circular also listed the departmental procedures and guidelines seeking to emphasise that only official spokespersons are allowed to speak to media persons on the government’s behalf, The Times of India reported.