Punjab Assembly passes Defamation Bill 2024, A serious violation of the fundamental rights
What is the defamation law passed in the Punjab Assembly? The Provincial Government of Punjab Government of Punjab Province has decided to pass the Defamation Amendment Bill 2024 in the House. Under this amendment bill, any person can be punished for making misleading claims in electronic, social media and print media against government officials and ordinary citizens. Critics are calling it a 'black law', aimed at 'suppressing the voice of dissent'. This is being widely seen as a serious violation of the fundamental rights of freedom of expression and freedom of the press. It should be noted that the government rejected the proposal of journalist organizations to postpone the bill. In a meeting with the Information Minister, the journalistic organizations had demanded that the bill be delayed by a few days. The bill will apply to print, electronic and social media, under which a defamation case can be filed for spreading false and untrue news. The bill will also ap