Media bodies decry draft law 'curbing freedom' in Assam

“We condemn such approach of the government and demand dropping from the draft Bill the clauses regulating the media.  We also appeal to all the media organisations, journalist bodies and proponents of freedom of the media to oppose and condemn the provision of censoring media in the draft law,” the statement added.



The draft states that any unauthorised, private, oral, print or electronic media publicity to, and/or observation of bandh will be unconstitutional and illegal.  

According to the provision of the draft law, a bandh is unconstitutional and an offence as no individual or organisation has the right to paralyse the educational, economic and industrial systems.

The draft of the legislation says the State Government may, by order in writing, prohibit either absolutely or for a specified period, the bringing into, or sale or distribution or circulation within the state of any newspaper, periodical, book, leaflet or other document specified in the order, if it is satisfied that such action is necessary for preventing an unconstitutional bandh and/or any activity which undermines the security of or tends to overthrow the State or any part of it.