THE Free Software Movement of India (FSMI) in a statement issued on November 24 has decried the ban on criticism against the demonetisation policy of the BJP led central government. The district magistrate of Indore has issued an order – Order/2956/RADM/2016 on November 14 under Section 144 – banning any criticism on social media such as Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc on exchange of old currency that is “objectionable” or can “cause incitement”. The FSMI noted that the order, in effect, is a blanket ban on any criticism of the government on its failure to provide sufficient new notes for the old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes that it has demonetised. Clearly, having failed to remonetise the economy and putting the common man to immense hardship, the government now wants to clamp down on all criticism on its failures. The use of Section 144 for censorship of social media also goes far beyond what the Supreme Court has held in its various judgements, it said. The Supreme Court in Madhu Limaye and Anr v. Ved Murti and Ors. ((1970) 3 SCC 746), held that the use of Section 144 is justified only for prevention of public disturbance or violence, and urgency as the only ground for using this section.

The state and central governments have been using Section 144 arbitrarily in shutting down the internet and going far beyond what its powers are under Section 144. It has now extended such powers, earlier used only for banning public assembly, to now attacking people’s rights of freedom of speech, guaranteed under Section 19. It shows the desperation of the central and the Madhya Pradesh governments that having failed in the elementary task of providing money to the people for conducting their day-to-day lives, they are resorting to such draconian measures to stifle all legitimate criticism.

The Free Software Movement of India demands that this order of the district magistrate be immediately withdrawn and the Madhya Pradesh government issue an apology to the people for this action.