New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India has urged Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to withdraw the “disturbing” amendment to the Kerala Police Act 118 A, which provides upto three years of imprisonment, a fine of Rs 10,000 or both for publication of material with an intention to intimidate, insult, or defame any person through social media.
Following widespread backlash, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had Monday said that it will “not go ahead with implementing” the amendment. The chief minister said in a statement: “The amendment evoked varied responses from several corners. Apprehensions were aired by those who support the LDF and profess to defend democracy. In these circumstances, the government will not go ahead with implementing the amendment.”
However, the Guild has responded, “Although the government has placed the amendment on hold until discussed by the state assembly and has given an assurance to the Kerala High Court that the state police will not take any adverse actions, the ordinance is still in force and has the potential for grave misuse and should be withdrawn forthwith.”
Amendment ‘deeply’ hurts free speech, free press
The Editors Guild further stated that the amendment to the Kerala Police Act “would deeply hurt the cause of free speech and freedom of press as it gives unbridled powers to the police to target political opposition and the press in the name of monitoring content on social media”.
Vijayan had Sunday defended the government’s move as a number of complaints poured in against the misuse of social media. While he made assurances that the new amendment won’t be used against the right to free speech or impartial journalism, he noted that online media has “scant regard” for individual freedom.
“They (the complaints) have brought to the notice of the government instances where inhuman and vile cyber attacks were carried out by some in the guise of journalism and how it even harmed the family lives of many. It has often turned into targeted attacks using untruths and even sleazy content. Many families are bearing the consequences of such attacks,” Vijayan had said.
He added that a government has a duty to protect both the individual and press freedom.
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