In a firm move to preserve public order and maintain communal harmony, District Magistrate Jammu, Dr. Rakesh Minhas, has issued a strict prohibitory order under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. The order imposes extensive restrictions on the misuse of social media platforms.
The directive, which has come into immediate effect, prohibits the sharing of provocative, false, or misleading content on digital platforms amid rising concerns over attempts to disturb peace through online activity. The administration has noted increasing misuse of platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and Telegram for spreading communally sensitive and inflammatory material.
The order clearly bans hate speech in any form, including posts, memes, videos, and audio content that promotes enmity on religious, caste, racial, or regional grounds. It also prohibits the circulation of edited or morphed images, misleading videos, and out-of-context visuals intended to incite unrest. The use of social media to provoke violence, issue threats, call for boycotts, or organise unlawful gatherings has also been barred. Sharing unverified rumours, especially those related to law and order or security issues, has been strictly forbidden.
The order warns that violations will invite strict legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and the Information Technology Act, 2000. Offenders may face imprisonment of up to three years for promoting enmity, up to five years for hate speech in religious contexts, and up to seven years or even life imprisonment for acts affecting national sovereignty. Non-compliance with lawful digital restrictions may also result in jail terms of up to seven years.
It further states that social media group administrators and moderators will be held jointly responsible for any prohibited content shared within their groups. Failure to prevent or report such content could also lead to legal action against them.
Citizens have been advised to act responsibly by not forwarding inflammatory or unverified content, reporting objectionable material to the nearest police station or cyber crime unit, and verifying information through official sources before sharing. The Cyber Crime Unit Jammu will monitor social media platforms round the clock, while Social Media Monitoring Cells have also been set up at the sub-divisional level under relevant authorities.
The order applies across the entire jurisdiction of Jammu district, regardless of where the content is posted from. It will remain in force for 60 days unless extended, modified, or withdrawn earlier. The Senior Superintendent of Police, Jammu, has been directed to ensure swift FIR registration against violators. Reiterating a zero-tolerance approach, the administration has warned of strict action against anyone misusing digital platforms to spread unrest.
