Guidelines For Social Media Use Under CrPC Section 144 In Kashmir

Srinagar: In a bid to control the dissemination of content deemed communally sensitive or promoting terrorism and secessionism, authorities in Kashmir have issued guidelines for social media users under CrPC Section 144. The move comes amidst rising concerns about the misuse of social media platforms for spreading potentially harmful content, as reported by PTI.

The Code of Criminal Procedure commonly called Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) provides a framework for the investigation, trial, and adjudication of criminal cases.

Below are the key points of the issued guidelines:

1. Promptly report any suspicious activity to the nearest Police Station or Police Post with a screenshot and detailed information.
2. Social media users are advised to recall messages promptly if they accidentally share inappropriate content.If recalling is not possible, issue a clarification to each contact or group it was shared with.
3. Individuals participating in WhatsApp groups featuring messages or posts propagating terrorism may face presumption unless they opt out or report the group to the police. Staying in such a group may be seen as agreement and approval of its content.

Legal Consequences:

Posting content on social media that promotes disharmony is considered a criminal offence. A new provision under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) will be introduced for this purpose. The draft of the law will be open to public feedback before enactment.