| News Details |
| DUJ Objects to IT Rules Amendments | |
New Delhi,April 04 (Scoop News)- The Delhi Union of Journalists strongly objects to the Union government’s latest moves to censor the digital media by proposing fresh amendments to the IT Rules, as well as its plans to implement the anti-people Labour Codes.
Not content with dictating content to the godi media, particularly the television channels, the Government now wishes to create a compliant online media too. The draft IT Rules amendments made public on March 30, 2026 propose to bring under their ambit not just those who publish but also individuals who post news and current affairs, comment on these, post cartoons or satirical videos etc. This would be a severe deterrent to commentators and reporters, including those who post on Facebook or Instagram or run small YouTube channels or even write blogs. In February 2026 amendments had reduced takedown times to as little as two or three hours, depending on the type of content. This timeframe is unrealistic for both platforms and individuals.
We observe with dismay the increasing government orders to takedown commentary, cartoons and channels in the past months. The channel 4 PM News was blocked last month, the Facebook pages of Molitics, National Dastak and satirist Rajeev Nigam taken down, Mohd. Zubair’s X account blocked and some YouTube channels quietly demonetised. The Wire’s animated cartoon on Prime Minister Modi was ‘witheld in India in response to a legal demand’. In February another animation was taken down on Insta and X. There is no transparency when takedown orders are issued and no easy recourse for those affected.
The latest amendments would be a severe blow to the freedom of expression, to democratic dissent. Already venues where open debate and discussion are permitted are becoming limited under pressure from both police and right wing groups. The right to take to the streets has been severely curtailed in most cities, with only a few heavily policed spaces where public protests are permitted. The social media is among the few spaces left and this may now be muffled.
Meanwhile, the people’s labour rights are also under attack with Labour Code Rules ready for notification. The DUJ has for years now opposed the move to demolish the two Working Journalists’ Acts through the mislabelled Occupational Safety & Health Code and supported the central trade unions’ demands for withdrawal of all four Codes. We fear the impact on our working conditions, wages and other labour rights if the Codes are implemented.
We call upon our members and all concerned citizens to voice their opposition to the latest moves to crackdown on both labour rights and the right to free expression. Democracy and free speech needs to be defended with vigilance.
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