Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has ordered strict action against “fake journalists” operating in Jammu and Kashmir, directing officials to ensure that only verified and bona fide media professionals are recognised and engaged by government departments.
According to officials who attended a high-level meeting chaired by the LG in Srinagar, the issue of fake journalism was discussed in detail. The matter had also come up during the recent session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, where several legislators raised concerns about individuals misusing the name of journalism for personal gain.
“The LG was very clear that anyone misusing the identity of a journalist must face legal action,” said a senior official present at the meeting. “He directed all Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to take steps to identify such individuals and remove them from the system.”
The LG also asked departments to prepare a verified database of accredited and active journalists in every district. He instructed officials to engage only those whose credentials are verified by the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).
Sinha further directed that people or groups running online news portals, Facebook pages, or social media accounts claiming to be journalists must be registered and verified by the DIPR. “Digital media platforms must be accountable for the content they publish and must follow media ethics and legal boundaries,” he said.
Officials said the decision follows growing complaints that some individuals have been misusing press cards and social media platforms to intimidate officials or extract favours. “The government values the contribution of real journalists who work with honesty and responsibility,” said another senior officer. “But those tarnishing the reputation of journalism will not be spared.”
Earlier, the DIPR had directed all District Information Officers in Kashmir to intensify vigilance and take action against such “fake journalists”.
