Darda said he welcomed the finance minister's decision to reduce customs duty on standard newsprint to 5 per cent from 10 per cent. The INS president said he was, however, unhappy that publications using imported glazed newsprint would be badly affected as customs duty has been increased to 5 per cent from 5 per cent.

The burden is more because this variety of newsprint has to be fully imported as it is not manufactured in the country. "This will affect magazines in particular," said Darda.

The newspaper industry is going through turbulent times because of a drop in advertisement revenue. Importing glazed newsprint, standard newsprint and the fall of the rupee will adversly affect the print media.

The 5 per cent tax on imported glazed newsprint negates the advantage of the decision of the finance minister to reducethe standard-newsprint import duty by 5 per cent.

So, it is really a balancing act, with no meaningful advantage to the publishing industry, said Darda. Darda said the Supreme Court has always struck down unreasonable and excessive levies on newsprint, terming it unconstitutional. Taxing newsprint tantamounts to an imposition on knowledge and information. This would be viewed by the newspaper industry as an anti-press measure.

The INS presdent thanked the finance minister for the concession proferred to lightweight coated paper. The INS urges Sinha to totally abolish customs duty on standard and imported glazed newsprint when the finance bill is taken up for voting in the Lok Sabha.