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New Delhi: The DIGIPUB News India Foundation has raised serious concerns over a recent threat of legal action by the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) administration against one of their members, The Chenab Times, a digital news outlet based in Doda district.
The foundation condemned what it described as an attempt to stifle press freedom after the administration reportedly objected to a video posted by The Chenab Times on its Facebook page.
The Chenab Times had recently published a report covering the detention of a local activist from Doda under the Public Safety Act (PSA). In a letter dated November 12, 2024, the J&K administration’s Department of Information and Public Relations in Doda referred to the video as an “irrelevant post”. The letter alleged that the video content “prejudiced the due process of law,” created “rumours” and portrayed the district’s administrative procedures in a “bad light,” claiming it risked public order.
The district information officer (DIO), Doda, warned of legal action against The Chenab Times for publishing the video report about the detention of Rehamatullah, a Doda-based activist, allegedly for raising civic issues.
In the nearly 16-minute-long video, reporter Raja Shakeel mentioned that Rehamatullah was booked under the PSA for the second time. The Chenab Times has defended its report, asserting that it included the district administration’s perspective and followed all the necessary legal norms for digital platforms. The outlet stated that their reporting did not incite any law and order disruptions.
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DIGIPUB, a coalition of over 90 digital news outlets nationwide objected “the tone and content of the letter” calling it “yet another attempt by the J&K administration to silence critical reporting and prevent reporters from questioning the authorities.”
The foundation has questioned the legal grounds on the basis of which which the DIO summoned the news outlet and demanded documents regarding the outlet’s “authority” to operate.
“We submit that there is none and ask the Department of Information and Public Relations, Doda, to withdraw the letter and cease harassing The Chenab Times,” DIGIPUB stated.
The foundation expressed outrage over the harassment of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting that the region’s reporters have been subjected to searches, detentions, criminal charges under stringent laws and even extended imprisonment.
