Kerala Guv signs Kerala Police act amendment ordinance

New Delhi: Amid resistance from the opposition parties, Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan has signed the Kerala Police Act amendment ordinance.

The law aims to stop bullying, insulting or disgracing individuals through any content and circulating the same through any communication medium. The offenders will be awarded a sentence of five years/penalty of Rs 10,000 or both.

Kerala CM said:

In addition to media freedom, the government has a responsibility to protect the individual liberty and dignity guaranteed by the Constitution: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan https://t.co/WUbLyXy6Ee

— ANI (@ANI) November 22, 2020

Meanwhile, former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday expressed shock over the signing of the Kerala Police Act Amendment ordinance, which the Congress-led opposition says is aimed at “muzzling” media.

“Shocked by the law made by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government of Kerala making a so-called ‘offensive’ post on social media punishable by 5 years in prison,” Chidambaram tweeted.

Also shocked by the attempt to implicate Mr Ramesh Chennithala, LOP, in a case where the investigation agency had filed a closure report FOUR times

How will my friend @SitaramYechury , GS, CPI(M), defend these atrocious decisions?

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) November 22, 2020