KARACHI: The Indian tax authorities have revoked the non-profit status of two independent media organisations: The Reporters Collective (TRC), a journalist association, and The File, a news site.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the action in a statement released on Friday, describing it as an `offensive against the press` and calling upon the tax authorities to rescind the decision.

`It is an intolerable attack on journalism and a dangerous precedent that could threaten all non-profit media organisations in India,` the RSF said in its statement.

The Reporters Collective, a New Delhi-based association of reporters, said on Jan 28 that its nonprofit status had been revoked by the tax authorities on the grounds that `journalism does not serve any public purpose and therefore cannot be carried out as a non-profit activity`.

The loss of this status subjects the organisation to the same taxes as commercial enterprises, jeopardising its financial viability.The RSF said in its statement that it was `concerned about an emerging pattern of fiscal harassment` as The File fell victim to a similar decision in December.

Célia Mercier, who heads the RSF`s South Asia desk, said: `By attacking independent media organisations under the pretext of tax regulations, the authorities are attempting to silence investigative journalists and dry up their financial resources.

`To claim that journalism is only for profit and to deny its public interest ignores the very nature of the profession and the role it plays in a democracy.

Information was essential to the proper functioning of democracies and it is thanks to journalists that citizens have access to reliable, independent and diverse information, the RSF chief added.

`It seems the Indian authorities want to ignore international commitments, including the International Declaration on Information and Democracy.

The RSF called for the immediate restoration of the non-profit status of The Reporters` Collective and The File.