The District Magistrate of Jammu has issued a sweeping order prohibiting the posting, sharing, or circulation of inflammatory, false, or communal content on social media platforms, citing growing misuse of digital platforms that could disturb public order and communal harmony.
The order, issued by Dr. Rakesh Minhas (IAS), District Magistrate Jammu, invokes powers under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, and comes into immediate effect across the district.
The administration stated that platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram have increasingly been used to spread provocative and misleading content, including morphed images, fabricated videos, and false narratives, which have the potential to incite communal tensions and endanger lives and property.
Under the directive, the dissemination of any content that promotes enmity or hatred between communities, circulates false or misleading information, or misrepresents incidents through doctored visuals has been strictly prohibited. The order also bars the use of social media to call for boycotts, issue threats, organize unlawful assemblies, or target any community, religion, caste, or ethnic group.
The District Magistrate emphasized that spreading rumours or unverified information related to communal incidents, law and order situations, or security matters will attract legal action under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The order outlines that offences such as promoting enmity, hurting religious sentiments, or spreading content prejudicial to national integration may lead to imprisonment ranging from one year to life, along with fines, depending on the severity of the violation.
People have been directed to verify information through official and credible sources before sharing any content, particularly in sensitive situations. The administration has also made administrators of social media groups and online platforms jointly responsible for ensuring that prohibited content is not circulated through their channels.
The order further directs individuals who receive inflammatory or communal content to refrain from forwarding it and instead report such material to the nearest police station, cyber crime unit, or designated helpline.
The administration said the measures are necessary to maintain public tranquility, communal harmony, and security in the district, which is characterized by significant religious and cultural diversity. [KNT]
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