HC bans reporting on controversial army movement

The court order came following a PIL filed by a social activist who felt that such news could be harmful to security matters relating to the Indian Army and the nation, reports Sharat Pradhan.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on Tuesday ordered a complete ban on any news about the alleged movement of Indian army troops from Agra to Delhi that sparked off a major controversy.

A division bench comprising justice Uma Nath Singh and Justice V K Dixit directed the state home secretary to convey to both print and electronic media that they must desist from carrying any news relating to that particular movement of military troops.

The court's order came following a PIL filed by social activist N Thakur, who felt that such news could be harmful to security matters relating to the Indian army and the nation.

"The issue of movement of Army troops is not a matter of the kind which should require public discussion at the cost of defence official secrecy and the security of country," observed the bench.  

While dismissing the petition, it added, "thus, without interfering with the independence of media and keeping in view the fact that the news items relating to movements of troops have already engaged the attention at the highest level in the defence as well as in the government, we think it appropriate to direct the secretary, home affairs, and the secretary, information & broadcasting, government of India and the principal secretary (home), government of UP, to ensure that there is no reporting/release of any news item by the print as well as electronic media relating to the subject matter, namely, the movement of troops."