THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan signed the controversial Kerala Police Law Amendment Ordinance, which according to the government was intended to prevent cyberattacks against women and children. Several organizations, including CPI, a member of the ruling LDF government, had opposed the amendment which is also covered in the media.
The cabinet had proposed amendment 118 (A) to the Kerala Police Law of 2011 on October 21 and the governor had kept it pending until Friday.
According to a press release issued by the CM office on the day the ordinance was approved, the new section reads, “Anyone who produces content, posts it or propagates it through any means of communication with the intention of threatening insulting or damaging the reputation of an individual will be punishable by a prison term of five years or a fine of Rs 10,000 or both. ”
The government had reasoned that the ordinance was introduced amid growing complaints about cyberbullying against women and children in which defendants could not be restrained by current legal provisions. Unlike a defamation case (IPC Sections 499 and 500), which needs a petitioner, the proposed amendment is a recognizable offense and anyone can file a complaint or a police officer can suo motu register a case against the accused. The police can also arrest defendants named in the FIR without a warrant.
The UDF opposition and internet and rights organizations had argued that the amendment would give more power to the police and restrict press freedom. Refuting the charge, Prime Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the amendment would not be used against any media outlet.
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