Jammu and Kashmir Government has sent a legal notice to a local English daily, accusing it of carrying an op-ed article which was "false" and aimed at defaming the state administration and its functionaries.
The newspaper, Greater Kashmir, in its October 3 edition had carried an anonymous article which gave an alleged account of lack of preparedness and discipline among the state bureaucracy while dealing with the devastating floods in JK last month.
The notice maintained that the newspaper has, by publishing the anonymous article, violated the Jammu & Kashmir Press and Publication Act, Svt. 1989, which prohibits newspapers from containing words, signs or visible representation which tend directly or indirectly to bring into hatred or contempt the Government established by law in the state or to excite disaffection towards the government or any of its ministers or to grossly misrepresent the policy and activities of the Government.
"Now, therefore, the Printer, Publisher and the Editor of the daily newspaper are hereby called upon to show cause as to why the declaration made in respect of the newspaper 'Greater Kashmir' shall not be annulled," the government notice said.
The explanation, if any, shall reach the Government in the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Department within two days or should be published by the newspaper on the front page within two days, failing which, or in the event of the explanation being found unsatisfactory, the action as proposed shall follow, it added.
Meanwhile, Opposition PDP criticised the government notice to the newspaper saying "it was a desperate attempt by a dysfunctional state government to establish its authority in wake of its staggeringly dismal response to the recent floods".
