Jammu & Kashmir HC seeks Govt. response to plea on escalation of online news portals

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Read Order: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Forum v. Govt. of JK th. Pr. Sec. to Govt. & Ors

LE Staff

Srinagar, August 3, 2021: The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh has sought the response of the Government of Jammu & Kashmir on a plea highlighting the escalation of news websites which are allegedly operating without registration or license and disseminating fake news. 

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Pankaj Mithal and Justice Sanjay Dhar asked the State to clarify while specifically pointing out to provisions of law under which such news portals if at all are required to be registered or licensed and if so whether the above news portals are running with due permission in accordance with law. 

The High Court also asked the State if any agency is examining the contents of the news circulated by these news portals. 

The present PIL had been filed alleging the mushrooming growth of news agencies on social media especially the news portals which are involved in circulating fake news, the HC noted.

The counsel for the petitioners submitted that several news portals like Kashmir News, Kashmir Voice, Kashmir Breaking News, News Kashmir 24/7, Kashmir Business Hub and Bol Kashmir etc. were operating freely without any registration or license from any authority and these news portals are not under supervision and control of any authority whatsoever.

Accordingly, the High Court listed the matter on September 1, and asked the State to file its reply within one month. 

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