�Deptt of Information can�t decide if the content is fake or antinational; clause being reviewed�

Jammu | 25 July 2020

In a reference to J&K Information Department�s Media Policy 2020, which empowers the DIPR (Department of Information and Public Relations) to examine media content for fake news, plagiarism and unethical or anti-national activities, the Lt G C Governor Murmu is reported to have said, �I will check this, this is not required. There are relevant IPC/ CrPC and other laws for this.�
He was speaking with a national print media organization the other day.
The policy, implemented by the Information Department on May 15, 2020, mentions, �DIPR shall examine the content of the print, electronic and other forms of media for fake news, plagiarism, unethical or anti-national activities.� Any individual or group indulging in this shall be de-empanelled, it said.
�A suitable mechanism with specific ToRs (terms of reference) shall be set up by the DIPR for monitoring the above and ensuring adherence to the guidelines,� it said.
However, Murmu said the policy was primarily revised to give space to the electronic and social media. �Advertisements were given only to print and local media � patronage. People haven�t done anything for electronic and social media,� he said.
He emphasised that other things in the policy were normal. �If you see the government of India or other states�, the accreditation policy depends on circulation, readership, etc. The policy follows the same things� there is nothing discriminatory,� he said.
The Lieutenant Governor said that the DIPR did not have the capacity to decide whether a particular news is �anti-national.�
�This obviously, only the agencies can check. We can delete this also (from the revised media policy). They (DIPR) only have to do the checks required for accreditation, but not facts� if there is such a situation, they will get it checked from agencies. What is �anti-national� is a parameter of law� the Supreme Court has given judgements on this from time to time� Again, agencies or police will have to do (look into this),� he said.
�I have already told the Information Department to re-check all this,� Murmu said.