In what appears to gag the press freedom, the Lalitpur district administration has directed local journalists to register their WhatsApp groups with the district information department or face legal action under the IT Act.
In what appears to gag the press freedom, the Lalitpur district administration has directed local journalists to register their WhatsApp groups with the district information department or face legal action under the IT Act.
In an order issued on August 25 by the District Magistrate Lalitpur Manvendra Singh and Superintendent of police (SP) OP Singh directed all local journalists to furnish details of their WhatsApp groups to the district information office with details.
The admins of such groups are asked to submit their Aadhar Cards and Photographs with a list of members of the group and their details with documents to the information department, which is headed by the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
The DM and the SP claimed that the order was issued in the public interest to monitor social media groups spreading fake news causing unnecessary tension in the district.
The order has also directed all local news portals to get their registration done at the district information office. No news portals will be allowed without registration and legal action would be initiated against those who did not comply with the order.
The order necessitated following a row in Chowki village about ten days ago over the construction of a temple by members of Lodh and Kushwaha Samaj. “The issue was blown out of proportion by a section of the media without verifying facts causing tension in the village,” said a senior Lalitpur-based journalist while talking to DNA.
Though office-bearers of the Press Club Lalitpur have taken umbrage over the issuance of the order calling it an attempt to gag the press but journalists are divided over the issue. Rajvi Babele, Lalitpur Press Club President said that they will fight for its withdrawal as it was an attempt to gag the press freedom.
“The media should also check its limits. A lot of fake news is being circulated on the social media. Either we check it on our own or face consequences,” said Archana Shukla, a local freelance journalist, while defending the order.
As a result of the order, many journos in Lalitpur have closed their WhatsApp accounts fearing action from the local administration.
The state government, however, denied issuing any such orders to curtail freedom of the press. Avneesh Awasthi, the Principal Secretary State Information department said that he will look into the order issued by the Lalipur district administration.
“The state government has not issued any such directives,” he clarified.
J.P. Shukla, former President UP Accreditated Journalists Association said that such a crackdown was imminent to check circulation of fake news in the social media, many a time by journalists themselves.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "Whatsapp")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}