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.