The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) today expressed strong opposition to what is called the Rajasthan government's move to "gag the press" through an ordinance and demanded that the bill be withdrawn immediately.
President of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) Akila Urankar said while the bill that substitutes an ordinance to this effect has been referred to a select committee of the Assembly, "there remains a clear and present danger to the freedom of the press".
"The proposed legislation attacks the fundamentals of democracy and is prima facie unconstitutional. It would, therefore, be fit and proper for the government of Rajasthan to withdraw the bill immediately and the society asks that this be done forthwith," she said in a statement.
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The government of Rajasthan is seeking "to gag the press in the guise of protecting serving and former members of the judiciary and public servants from being investigated for on- duty actions, without prior government sanction", the statement said.
The Criminal Laws (Rajasthan Amendment) Ordinance, 2017, seeks to protect serving and former judges, magistrates and public servants in the state from being investigated for on- duty action, without its prior sanction.
It also seeks to bar the media from reporting on such accusations till the sanction to proceed with the probe is given by the government.
Under fire from various quarters, the Rajasthan government yesterday referred the controversial bill to a select committee of the assembly.
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