Andhra Pradesh govt seeks crackdown on defamatory news, TDP slams move

On Wednesday, Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Andhra Presh government issued an order authorising  secretaries of respective departments to file appropriate legal cases against defamatory news published in print, social, or electronic media. This was an extension of Government Order . 938 of 2007, whereby n Chief Minister YS Rajashekar Reddy allowed a designated officer to file defamation cases against publishers and editors. order claimed that re was an attempt to deliberately tarnish im of government.  

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order re, "Instances have come to tice of government that certain print, electronic, and social media are deliberately trying to tarnish im of government and government officials by spreing false, baseless, and defamatory news with malafide interest.” It ded, "After careful examination of matter, government hereby accords permission to delegate powers to Secretaries of respective departments to issue rejoinders, file complaints and lodge appropriate cases, if need be, through public prosecutor against defamatory news items published/telecast/posted in print/electronic/social media pertaining to ir respective departments after following due process of law." 

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TDP chief condemns order

Former CM Chandrababu Naidu, chief of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) condemned this order. Maintaining that people h a right to ask questions in a democracy, he claimed that this was an attempt to stifle freedom of expression. Furrmore, he expressed apprehension that Andhra Presh government could target those who were showcasing its failures and promised to fight against this order. 

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(With ANI inputs)