The Thma U Rangli Juki (TUR) has objected to a notification mandating that all individuals and organisations involved in disseminating news on social media platforms within Meghalaya must register with the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).
While appealing to the press fraternity, content creators and citizens to reject the notification the organisation termed it “illegal because policy is not a notified law but merely a set of guidelines.”
“This order by the Government of Meghalaya goes against the Constitutional Guarantees of Freedom of Expression and Press Freedom. By giving government the illegal and wide ranging power to decide what information disseminated is against the interest of the state, public order, decency, morality or involves defamation of any individual or institution or that is likely to incite the commission of any offense, this policy is arbitrary and fringes on our freedoms,” TUR said.
According to the organisation, this can allow the government to take action against any platform that publishes this appeal because they can interpret it as an incitement of journalists to defy this notification by the government.
TUR said it is shocked that the government doesn’t know the difference between law and policy or even that the questions of Press comes under the concurrent list of the Indian constitution and is what is called an occupied field of legislation.
“Even a common citizen who chooses to criticise the corruption of the government on social media can also be convicted as per this notification by the Meghalaya Government,” it added.
Further, TUR said it was shocked that various media bodies did not challenge the policy at the stage of its formulation. “Meghalaya Communication Policy 2024 is not only a danger to Press Freedom and Freedom of Speech but also goes against laws such as the Right to Information Act 2005,” it added.
