Fact Check: Citizens can share updates on COVID-19 as it’s not restricted by the Disaster Management Act

By Mohit Gadhok Published on April 5, 2020, 09:59 IST Last updated May 23, 2020, 09:46 IST

As we have checked there are no restrictions on sharing any news or updates on COVID-19 as long as it is backed by facts.

There has been a message that is circulated over the internet, that states:

Dear All,
Mandate for All:
Tonight 12 ( midnight) onwards Disaster Management Act has been implemented across the country. According to this update, apart from the Govt department no other citizen is allowed to post any update or share any forward related to Corona virus and it being punishable offence.
Group Admins are requested to post the above update and inform the groups.
Please adhere this strictly.
As we checked in the message there are no dates mentioned but just states from midnight

There is also a video that has been attached along with this, and as checked it is from July 13, 2018.

In this video a Police Officer is seen stating not to share any offensive material and nowhere it can be seen he is stating about CORONAVIRUS.

The Disaster Management Act, 2005 was invoked on March 24 2020, same-day on which the 21-day lockdown was ordered. You may check the copy of the order here.

The Supreme Court of India also passed a judgement on 31st March stating that any information sharing on whatsapp or social media on COVID-19 which is false will be punishable under the law.

So it is completely false that you cannot share any update or news on COVID-19 if backed with facts.

Source Indiatoday.in