J&K to develop guidelines for journalists on social media

The Jammu and Kashmir government is working on a new media policy to regulate the rise of journalists on social media, the Legislative Assembly was informed on Wednesday (30 Sep 2026).

Responding to a question from National Conference (NC) MLA Bashir Veeri, minister Sakina Itoo said the House Assembly committee set up to look into the matter has given the information department four months to formulate new guidelines. Ms Itoo said the House committee headed by senior MLA and former minister Ali Mohammad Sagar met on July 13, 2026.

Several members expressed concern about the rapidly growing number of journalists on social media and called for strict rules. Spokesman Abdul Rahim Rather said that during the budget session, he asked the government to conduct a comprehensive study on the functioning of the media and formulate guidelines for action against those who violate the law.

Mr. Veeri’s colleague, NC MLA Nazir Gurezi, said that nowadays anyone can pick up the phone and become a journalist. “Then social media is abused. There should be some regulation,” he demanded.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) MLA Waheed Para said, “We are living in the 21st century and demanding censorship is not right.”

Ms Itoo said the matter was for the House.

“There was a half-hour discussion in the budget meeting and the government responded then. Without media – whether print or electronic – we are incomplete, there are no two ways. But, sir, there are some shortcomings now, there is no doubt about that,” she said.

Ms Itoo said lawmakers were also to blame in this era of mobile phones. “We will have our close associates photograph everything here so that the pictures can be published outside later. We cannot put all the blame on the media workers alone,” she said.

She informed the congregation that a member had opened a social media page under the name of his wife’s maid.

“Some honorable members – I won’t name names – one honorable member created a page under the name of his wife’s maid. If you looked at that page, I really believe the devil would be ashamed. The things written on that page, the nature of the criticism, the foul language directed at ministers… and if all this is considered acceptable, how can we stand here only on the media?” she said.

Social media is used for mudslinging and political parties are also responsible, she said.

“Those who have turned into mobile and Facebook media are bent on defaming anyone’s character whenever they want and it takes less than two minutes to humiliate someone’s dignity. And if anyone is most responsible for this, it is the political parties,” she added.

She also referred to sites run by political parties.

“You will see the dignity of the individual being torn to shreds. It’s zero regulation. And yet you say our brothers in the media are wrong. They can be wrong too; I don’t deny that, because real accredited media persons are few and far between these days, while the number of self-proclaimed media pages on Facebook is huge,” she said.

The minister suggested that MPs and journalists should not have mobile phones in the chamber. She assured the House that the information department will put in place a comprehensive policy with rules, regulations and proper scrutiny.

“If anyone is found guilty of wrongdoing, strict action must be taken against them,” she said.

Published – 30 Sep 2026 15:06 IST