The J&K Government will draft a media policy to regulate digital and social media platforms in the Union Territory (UT), J&K Minister Sakina Itoo told the Assembly on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) after several legislators expressed their concern over the media functioning.
“The Information Department is soon going to issue New Media Policy, 2026, wherein, besides print media, adequate provisions for registration and regulation of the Online News Media Platforms have been incorporated to ensure their accountability,” said Ms. Itoo.
She said the government intends to address the functioning of unregistered and unregulated digital and social media news platforms and “ensure accountability in cases involving misleading or fabricated information”.
A House Committee, headed by National Conference legislator Ali Mohammad Sagar, and the Information Department would formulate comprehensive guidelines and standard operating procedures. The J&K government has proposed mechanism that would require the District Administrations “to maintain detailed lists of unregistered social media news handles operating in their respective districts”.
The government said cases would be filed under relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, wherever anyone is found disseminating false, misleading or fabricated information through social media platforms.
The government said the Social Media Cell of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), J&K, regularly tracks and examines news appearing in print, electronic and social media through its dedicated fake/misleading news monitoring mechanism.
The government response came after NC legislator Bashir Ahmed Shah Veeri raised the issue of regulation of social media handlers in the House. Another NC legislator Altaf Ahmad urged the Speaker “to consider measures against the circulation of videos and other content from the Assembly without authorisation”. NC legislator Nazir Ahmad Gurezi said Press plays an important role “but there should be a proper law so that every journalist can work professionally with proper ethics”.
“Press has an important role. If they fail to fulfil their responsibility, the government will act,” said Speaker Abdul Rahim Rather.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party legislator Waheed-ur-Rehman Para cautioned against attempts to control the social media. “We are living in a digital era. Nobody can control social media, and we cannot blame media for everything. It is our responsibility too,” said Mr. Para.
Published – September 30, 2026 03:06 pm IST
