Sikkim asked to crack the whip on fake publications

GANGTOK, Nov 14: Sikkim High Court has asked the State Government to approach the Centre to ``extend and enforce'' the relevant provisions o...

GANGTOK, Nov 14: Sikkim High Court has asked the State Government to approach the Centre to “extend and enforce” the relevant provisions of the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867 relating to `fake and fabricated’ publications.

In his order, acting Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, Justice Anup Deb, asked the State Government to complete the exercise within two weeks from the receipt of the order. The order was issued after Sikkim additional advocate general S P Wangdi submitted that the State Government had no objection to the CBI carrying out investigation relating to the cases of fake publications.

The order stated that offences under the Act are not notified under DSPE Act empowering the CBI to investigate in Sikkim. Wangdi, in his capacity as additional advocate general, has been asked to take all necessary steps for ensuring necessary notification empowering the CBI to investigate and enforcing the Press and Registration of Books Act 1867.

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Justice Deb said the CBI is at liberty to proceedon its own as the court does not want to impose any `condition’. However, the CBI would submit its report from time to time showing progress of the investigation to the court, he added.

Many magazines and newspapers containing virulent news items have hit Sikkim news stands in the recent past. These publications carry libelous articles on prominent political leaders and citizens of this sensitive border state.Incidentally, Sikkim HC had ordered the CBI to investigate fake publications that had mushroomed in the state and neighbouring Darjeeling Hills and the Dooars of north Bengal.

A CBI team, led by Deputy Inspector General R C Arora and Deputy Superintendent of Police A K Srivastava are conducting investigations, both within Sikkim and outside the country, specially in Nepal.

The acting Chief Justice had asked the CBI to probe the matter, which had grave inter-state and inter-country ramifications.

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The CBI in its deposition said, “The investigation will take quite some time as it was hamstrung forwant of requisite notification under the DSPE Act for the State of Sikkim.”