Andhra govt empowers secretaries to sue media, issues controversial order

  • The Andhra Pradesh government issued an order, authorising bureaucrats to sue media houses for 'defamatory, baseless and false' reports. 
     
  • "The government hereby accords permission to delegate powers to the secretaries of respective departments to issue rejoinders, file complaints and lodge appropriate cases" reads the Government Order.
     
  • It was on October 16 that the state cabinet decided to empower secretaries.
     
  • The move evoked protest from journalists' unions, civil society organisations and opposition parties.
     
  • The ruling party clarified that it has only decentralised the powers hitherto vested with the Commissioner of Information and Public Relations.

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