Kerala Police Act: The controversy and offensive text

Although the Kerala Government has announced not to go ahead with its earlier decision to implement the amended Kerala Police Act, it has not been entirely dumped and the state government plans to debate it in the assembly before taking further action on the controversial act.

According to reports, the widespread condemnation of the act and intervention of central leadership of CPI(M) forced Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to backtrack on the implementation decision

Why the act faces opposition?
The amended Kerala Police Act has a provision for a jail term for any social media abuse or offensive cyber post.

Many believe this act will be used to gag media and those who question the government and official on social media. This amended act, allege many, 'amounts to curtailing freedom of speech and expression'.

Why the need for amendment in the First Place?
Vijayan government argues the amendment was introduced to prevent defamatory campaigns on social media platforms that largely target women.

Earlier, Friday, Governor Arif Mohammad Khan approved the Kerala Police (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.

Controversial text of the amended Act

Any person who creates or sends any information that is offensive or is intended to offend or threaten another person, through any means of communication, is liable to face imprisonment of three years or a fine of Rs 10,000 or both.

CPI general secretary D. Raja said that he was uncomfortable with the ordinance and the party had expressed its opinion on it to the state leadership.

“We have asked our state units to reconsider the ordinance. We have spoken to the CPI(M) leadership and we both concur that the ordinance cannot go forward,” Mr. Raja told PTI.