Editors Guild urges PM Modi to put in abeyance new digital media rules
New Delhi, Mar 23: The Editors Guild of India (EGI) has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to put in abeyance the new digital media rules and criticised the three-tier mechanism to enforce the code of ethics, saying it was "regressive" and would be "adverse to the freedom of the press".
The government had on February 25 announced the Information Technology (Intermediary guidelines and digital media ethics codes) Rules 2021 under the Information and Technology Act, 2000.
"Part III of the Rules mandates that digital news media establish a self-regulating mechanism to resolve grievances raised by any person and empowers the government to delete, modify and block content published by digital news media.
"We are conscious of the challenges posed by the digital age, and as such, we recognize the need for self-regulation Of digital news media. However, we have grave concerns regarding the rules, which can fundamentally alter how news publishers operate over the Internet and undermine the freedom of the press in the country," the EGI said in a recent letter to Prime Minister Modi
The letter has also been addressed to Union Jaw and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.
According to the new rules, digital news media and OTT platforms must adhere to the code of ethics under the rules which will be enforced by a three-tier structure.
Level one includes self-regulation by publishers, level two includes self-regulation by a self-regulating body of publishers and level three will be central government oversight.
The EGI said this oversight mechanism permits officers of the government to block, delete or modify news published by digital news media which "affects the publishers' fundamental right to expression and citizens' right to access different points of views both guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution".
It said, "The concern here is the absolute decision-making power conferred upon the executive, which will inhibit digital news media and thereby press at large from fulfilling its obligations as the Fourth Estate.
"The Guild urges the ministry to withdraw such an onerous and regressive regulatory mechanism, and to initiate consultations for putting in place a more equitable self-regulatory system."
Under the new rules, anyone can file a grievance and the publisher will have to respond within 15 days of receiving it.
The Guild said that compelling publishers to respond to each and every complainant within a period as short as 15 days is "onerous".
"This again will be adverse to press freedom. The rules should have been accompanied by a form containing the details which the complainant should be obligated to furnish, to lodge a complaint. As of now, the publishers may have to spend resources to respond to incomplete, ill-intentioned and even anonymous complaints," it said.
The Guild said the rules were announced and notified on the same day and the Union government did not consult any stakeholders, including EGI, in the drafting of the rules.
"A consultation before notification of any rule ensures that concerns of stakeholders are addressed prior to the notification of the rule and that no stakeholder is disproportionately affected. In this case, consultation was critical as this is the first time the government is regulating publishers of news and current affairs and online curated content.
"In view of the concerns raised above, we request you to put the rules on abeyance and undertake meaningful consultation with all the stakeholders," it said.
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'Insensitivity towards poor, arrogance of power': Rahul Gandhi slams BJP over demolitions in Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 27 (PTI): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said hundreds of slum dwellers in Delhi are going through the pain of being rendered homeless with their houses being destroyed by the BJP government, as he claimed that this "atrocity" exposes the ruling party's "insensitivity" towards the poor and its "arrogance of power".
The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha shared a video of his recent visit to Delhi's Ashok Vihar area where houses of several people were brought down by the administration.
"Imagine, how would you feel if the roof over the head of your parents, children or siblings is suddenly taken away - if your entire family is rendered homeless in a single moment? Hundreds of poor families living in the jhuggis of Delhi are going through this pain today," Gandhi said in his post in Hindi on X along with the video.
The small houses in which they had settled their entire life were "ruthlessly destroyed" by the BJP government, he alleged.
These were not just houses - these were their dreams, their dignity and their means of living, he said.
"This atrocity being committed in the name of administration exposes the BJP's insensitivity towards the poor and its arrogance of power," Gandhi said.
"We stand firmly with these displaced families. This fight is no longer just for homes, it is for justice and humanity - and we will fight on every front," the former Congress chief said.
Last week, Gandhi had met some families in Ashok Vihar's Jailorwala Bagh and Wazirpur, whose houses were "bulldozed by the BJP government of Delhi".
In the video, Gandhi is seen interacting with the families who were rendered homeless. He assures them of taking up their cause and providing legal assistance.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) last month had carried out an anti-encroachment drive in West Delhi's Ashok Vihar and razed over 300 illegal dwellings.
A simultaneous anti-encroachment drive was also carried out in North Delhi's Wazirpur area by Indian Railways.
The demolition was carried out amid heavy police and paramilitary deployment. A total of 308 illegal dwellings were cleared from the Jailorwala Bagh in the Ashok Vihar area, as part of DDA's efforts to remove unauthorised settlements.
According to DDA, the action targeted jhuggi structures belonging to residents who were either already allotted alternative flats or were found ineligible under the rehabilitation policy.
सोचिए, अगर आपके अपने माँ-बाप, बच्चे या भाई-बहन के सिर से अचानक छत छीन ली जाए - अगर आपके पूरे परिवार को एक ही पल में बेघर कर दिया जाए, तो आपको कैसा लगेगा?
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 27, 2025
दिल्ली की झुग्गियों में रहने वाले सैकड़ों ग़रीब परिवार आज इसी दर्द से गुजर रहे हैं। जिन छोटे-छोटे घरों में उनकी पूरी ज़िंदगी… pic.twitter.com/lftR8NxwKD
