District magistrate (DM) Ramban, ShowkatAijazBhat, issued directions and asked people to get “Whatsapp and other social media news groups” registered with the national informatics centre (NIC), within seven days.
An order issued by the district magistrate read, “SSP Ramban observed that rumor mongers post unauthenticated news on facebook/whatsapp and other social media group(s), which could hinder the law and order situation in the district. The SSP recommended that only group admins could be authorized to post news, that too only after proper authentication. To check the rumor mongers and to keep watch over activities on social platforms, it is necessary to register their whatsapp/facebook groups so that any law and order situation could be averted and the un-registered group should be removed/blocked.”
“While the freedom of expression through social media is important, but the same comes with responsibility and reasonable restrictions,” the order states, adding that each Whatsapp and other social media group admin shall be personally responsible for uploading post in his/her group by him/her or any of the group participants.
“In case of violation of order, admin shall be considered to be in connivance with the offender and shall be liable for action under law,” the order read.
All the sub-divisional magistrates and tehsildars were directed to ensure strict adherence of the order in their respective jurisdictions.