Umamageswari Maruthappan
IG Nayyar Hasnain Khan, the Chief of the Economic Offences Wing, requested all the Secretaries of the State Government departments to inform the Wing of any offensive comments made through social media or internet against any of the government officials in Bihar.
A letter was sent to all the Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of the State Departments by IG Khan on 21st January 2021. In his letter, Khan stated that such offences would come under cyber crime and thus, “it seems appropriate to take action against such organizations and individuals”.
With this decision, defamatory and offensive social media posts will now be categorized as cyber crimes, and any persons or organizations posting such comments would be subject to arrest by the Bihar Police.
However, the Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav expressed his opposition calling the Bihar Chief Minister as “Bheeshm Pitamah” of the corrupt and the “protector of criminals.”
In his twitter account, Yadav condemned the move of the government stating that the CM is “walking on the path of Hitler.”
“This government has become intolerant towards criticism by the media and other people. It is an arbitrary move and sign of nervousness,” said Mrityunjay Tiwari, RJD spokesperson.
This step by the State Government can be positively viewed as a cap on unnecessary and deliberate posts shared with a malicious intention to spread wrong or offensive or defaming information.
Yet, it is important for a State in India to recognize and guarantee the “freedom of speech and expression” of its citizens. Before Bihar, the Government of Kerala moved a similar law through an ordinance, however, the same was not effected due to the criticisms it had received.
Even the Apex Court on October 2020, while hearing a case in similar lines, directed the States to “not cross the lines” and “let India remain a free Country.”