Human Rights Defenders Data Information Knowledge Solidarity
HRDs must counter State's offensive of intimidating ordinary people, from expressing their opinion on social media or on various issues . Lawyers as well as Journalists, and youtubers bring these cases up in the public eye in order to youth to feel more secure speaking out.. This series we will document case law as well as reports through links to documents, reports from various websites and Blogs and Posts of HRDs. This is also an attempt to publicise all the dirty tricks State have been using. This is a contributory effort..
“Naxalism is not restricted to remote rural parts alone, but frontal organisations have come up in urban areas as well which work towards creating distrust about the country and its institutions,” Fadnavis said.
“Even the anti-Naxal squads in Maharashtra wanted such a law to stop the activities of urban Naxals. This proposed law is not aimed at suppressing genuine dissenting voices, but to close down the dens of urban Naxals,” he added.
In response to Congress leader Nana Patole’s question on the need of having a separate Bill when existing laws have provisions to combat Naxalism, Fadnavis said that Maharashtra did not have a law to tackle Naxalism. “We have IPC (Indian Penal Code) and UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act). UAPA is for handling cases related to terror activities,”
Calling it a draconian, anti-constitutional law, activist Teesta Setalvad had said, “ Maharashtra follows Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh and Odisha to table a third and draconian law avowedly to tackle ‘urban Naxals’ not a legally defined but a politically stigmatising term used by proto-fascist forces to criminalise protest and dissent, jail writers, academics, activists, opposition leaders, etc.”
In July, itself PUCL Maharashtra strongly objects to the repressive and unconstitutional Maharashtra
Special Public Security Bill 2024 ..the Bill, approved few days back by the Cabinet of the Eknath Shinde
Government, was drafted on the lines of the Chhattisgarh Vishesh Jan Suraksha Adhiniyam (2005)
(“Chhatisgarh Act”) and the Andhra Pradesh Special Public Security Act (1992). In the state of
Chhattisgarh, and Jammu and Kashmir - where similar law being the Jammu and Kashmir Public Safety
Act, 1978 was first introduced, it has received extensive criticism for being used to target journalists,
lawyers, environmental defenders, citizen activists and adivasi protestors who have dissented against
state action. A constitutional challenge to the Chhattisgarh Act is pending before the Hon’ble Supreme
Court.
Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill repressive, allows misuse: Civil society https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/maharashtra/maharashtra-special-public-security-bill-repressive-allows-misuse-civil-society/article68400402.ece July 14, 2024
Activists and lawyers have flagged seven sections of the proposed legislation, aimed at fighting Naxalism in the State, saying the Bill has far reaching consequences
At least seven sections of the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024 are either vague or bypass courts or give overriding powers to the State machinery, which is far beyond the objective of curbing Naxalism that the ordinance is aimed at, said civil society members.
Maharashtra Public Security Bill aims to legitimise the criminalisation of dissenting citizens, human rights defenders and political opponents : PUCL https://www.groundxero.in/2024/07/14/21310/ 14.7.24
- Citing ‘Naxalism in urban areas’, Maharashtra Govt tables Bill
- PUCL TRIBUNAL On Manipur violence
- RSS to flag off Chalo Manipur
- Manipur: How Misrepresentation of Hmar and Zomi People Made Them Invisible in the Conflict
- Manipur isnt about ethnic violence it is a fight for natural resources.
- Killings, Rumours, Internet Shutdown: Manipur Returns to Unrest
- Ten Things That Emerged Out of a Year of Violence in Manipur
- Prime Minister Modi’s anathema for Manipur
- In Past Year, Modi Made 162 Trips to Various States, 14 Visits Abroad...and Zero to Manipur
- ‘Modiji, Silence Is Not Always Golden’: Protesters Say if Kukis Lose, Indian Democracy Will Lose Too
Subcategories
BAIL
For UAPA articles under
Free Speech
Ban on films, documentaries by Government e.g documentary on PM by BBC. Debate on censorship, opinion, statements by media people, leaders, screening of film on Modi at universities etc.
Corporate Behaviour and Free Speech
In a defamation case against Paranjoy Thakurta, a court has order, issued on September 6, directed the removal of defamatory content from their respective articles and social media posts within five days. In the suit filed by Adani Enterprises Ltd, seen by HT, the allegedly defamatory material includes transcripts of YouTube videos, screenshots of X posts by journalists, and images of their X profiles.https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/India/mib-issues-takedown-notices-to-13-digital-news-publishers-over-adani-defamation-case/ar-AA1MIjBR
Based on this, The ministry of information and broadcasting (MIB) on Tuesday issued takedown notices to 13 digital news publishers on YouTube and Instagram for disseminating defamatory content related to Adani Enterprises Ltd.The ministry’s order names journalists, media houses, and creators — including Newslaundry, Ravish Kumar, Dhruv Rathee, The Wire, HW News Network, and Aakash Banerjee’s The Deshbhakt — who have received a list of 138 YouTube video URLs and 83 Instagram links to be taken down.