New media policy for J-K violates fundamental rights: Bhim Singh - watsupptoday.com
New media policy for J-K violates fundamental rights: Bhim Singh
Posted 08 Jul 2020 06:29 PM

Image Source:


New media policy for J-K violates fundamental rights: Bhim Singh

| Jammu |

Senior advocate in the Supreme Court and chief patron of J&K National Panthers Party, Prof Bhim Singh has termed the new media policy adopted in the Union Territory last month as violation of the fundamental rights and freedom of press.
In a press statement, Singh said, �The so called �New Media Policy� adopted in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir on 2nd June, 2020 has created sustained narrative on the functioning of the government in media and dubbed the freedom of press as enshrined in Chapter-III of the Constitution of India since all Fundamental Rights are applicable to J&K since August 5th, 2019 when Article 35A was deleted by the President of India. There are sufficient provisions in the Constitution to provide reasonable restrictions on the freedom of press. Jammu & Kashmir is integral part of the Union of India with application of all Fundamental Rights since abrogation of Article 35A.�
The statement added, �The Union Territory has no competence not it is under the control of the Union Home Ministry by itself. The advertisement policy or the publication of any newspaper in any part of the country is controlled by the Fundamental Rights applicable to entire India including all the Union Territories. The Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir has issued a directive, �It (policy) addresses the ambiguities in the earlier advertisement policy and ensures that different kinds of media are given due consideration to keep pace with the changing demands of present times�. This is in total violation of Fundamental Rights including freedom of press and no single State or Union Territory shall claim any exclusive authority to damn any portion of Fundamental Rights. This kind of Ordinance cannot be issued or applied by the Parliament of India even which has been made applicable in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir since 2nd June, 2020�.
Prof Singh, who is also Executive Chairman of State Legal Aid Committee, Jammu & Kashmir, said there were sufficient laws to control the media within the Constitution and Penal Code. There cannot be separate media laws for a Union Territory and rest of the country. Such drastic press control laws were not used during emergency in 1975. Supreme Court in its judgment has strictly maintained that freedom of press cannot be controlled by draconian laws.
Singh urged the President of India to use his executive and legislative authority to direct the Lt. Governor of the Union Territory to withdraw this kind of drastic law which cannot be applied in a Union Territory like Jammu & Kashmir to curb the freedom of press and the Fundamental Rights enshrined in Chapter-III of the Indian Constitution. He said that this so called �New Media Policy� is totally illegal, improper, unconstitutional and in violation of the Fundamental Rights enshrined in the Constitution of India which stand applicable in respect of Jammu & Kashmir.

Leave a comment: (Your email will not be published)