Andhra Pradesh Government Issues Controversial Order to Gag Media

AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday issued an order, authorizing bureaucrats to sue media houses for defamatory, baseless and false reports.

Two weeks after the state cabinet took the controversial decision to gag media and ignoring the protest from journalist fraternity and other quarters, the government issued orders empowering secretaries of the respective departments to sue media houses.

The Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government went ahead with its move by releasing the order.

“Government hereby accord permission to delegate powers to the secretaries of respective departments to issue rejoinders, file complaints and lodge appropriate cases, if need be, through public prosecutor against defamatory news items published/telecast/posted in print/electronic/social media pertaining to their respective departments after following due process of law,” reads the order issued by T. Vijay Kumar Reddy, ex-officio secretary to the government, Information and Public Relations Department.

Leader of Opposition and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu reacted strongly to the release of the GO and called it draconian. He said this would curb freedom of expression, and is meant to stifle people’s voice on social media.

The former Chief Minister noted that the right to question, criticize and showcase the failures of a government is fundamental to democracy. (IANS)

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