02-23-2007, 06:18 PM
http://www.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=81910
<b>Curbing the Press</b>
<b>AP Govt withdraws order</b>
Posted online: Friday, February 23, 2007 at 1604 hours IST
Hyderabad, February 23: Facing strong protests from the media and the Opposition, the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh has withdrawn a controversial order on filing defamation cases against the media if they publish or telecast "baseless and false news items that are defamatory in nature."
The Government Order issued by Chief Secretary J Harinarayana on February 20 authorised the Commissioner of Information and Public Relations to file defamation cases through special public prosecutor and initiate legal action against publishers and editors.
<b>Invoking sub-section 4 of the Section 199 of Criminal Procedure Code, the order gave sweeping powers to the Information Commissioner to go ahead with prosecution proceedings against publishers and editors for carrying news items that are "defamatory in nature to the government."</b>
The order also envisaged appointment of special public prosecutors under section 24 (8) of the CrPC to file cases in the relevant courts and the expenditure incurred for conducting the prosecution would be met by the respective departments connected with the case.
The move came against the backdrop of the state government's battle with media baron Ch Ramoji Rao, the owner of the largest circulated Telugu daily "Eenadu" and Etv channels, which have been carrying stories critical of the ruling party.
As the issue evoked wide protests from the Opposition and media organisations, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on Friday announced in the Assembly that the GO had been cancelled.
<b>Curbing the Press</b>
<b>AP Govt withdraws order</b>
Posted online: Friday, February 23, 2007 at 1604 hours IST
Hyderabad, February 23: Facing strong protests from the media and the Opposition, the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh has withdrawn a controversial order on filing defamation cases against the media if they publish or telecast "baseless and false news items that are defamatory in nature."
The Government Order issued by Chief Secretary J Harinarayana on February 20 authorised the Commissioner of Information and Public Relations to file defamation cases through special public prosecutor and initiate legal action against publishers and editors.
<b>Invoking sub-section 4 of the Section 199 of Criminal Procedure Code, the order gave sweeping powers to the Information Commissioner to go ahead with prosecution proceedings against publishers and editors for carrying news items that are "defamatory in nature to the government."</b>
The order also envisaged appointment of special public prosecutors under section 24 (8) of the CrPC to file cases in the relevant courts and the expenditure incurred for conducting the prosecution would be met by the respective departments connected with the case.
The move came against the backdrop of the state government's battle with media baron Ch Ramoji Rao, the owner of the largest circulated Telugu daily "Eenadu" and Etv channels, which have been carrying stories critical of the ruling party.
As the issue evoked wide protests from the Opposition and media organisations, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy on Friday announced in the Assembly that the GO had been cancelled.