General Administration (I&PR) Department – Delegation of powers to Secretaries of respective Departments to lodge complaints and to file appropriate legal cases through Public Prosecutor against
false, baseless and defamatory news items published/Telecast/posted in Print/ Electronic/ Social Media - Orders - Issued.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION (I&PR) DEPARTMENT
G.O.RT.No. 2430 Dated: 30-10-2019.
Read :-
G.O.Rt No.938, General Administration (Poll.D)) Department, dated.20.02.2007.
ORDER:-
In the reference 1st cited, Orders were issued to accord permission to the Special Commissioner, Information and Public Relations to lodge complaint and file defamation cases through the Special Public Prosecutor against the Publishers and Editors and to initiate legal action.
Instances have come to the notice of the Government that certain print, electronic and social media are deliberately trying to tarnish the image of Government and Government officials by spreading false, baseless and defamatory news with malafide interest. In order to see that true and correct information reaches to people, Government vide G.O.Rt.No.938 GA (Poll.D) Dett., dt.20-02-2007 has empowered Special Commissioner, I&PR to file cases under appropriate sections of the law.
However, it is felt that Departmental Secretaries with thorough knowledge of the affaires of their respective Departments and also having powers and wherewithal to order enquiries to establish the veracity of news reports / posts ion print, electronic and social media are better placed to issue rejoinders, file complaints and lodge appropriate cases, if need be, through public prosecutor after following due process of law.
After careful examination of the matter, Government hereby accord permission to delegate powers to the Secretaries of respective Departments to issue rejoinders,, file complaints and lodge appropriate cases, if need be, through public prosecutor against defamatory news items published /Telecast/Posted in Print/ Electronic/Social Media pertaining to their respective Departments after following due process of law.
All Spl.CSs/Prl.Secys./Secretaries in the Departments of Andhra Pradesh Secretariat shall take necessary action accordingly.