People of Uttarakhand 

Uttarakhand 

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on February 18, 2021, regarding the unconstitutional and illegal order of Uttarakhand police on denial of a passport to any citizens posting anti-national posting on social media. 

The Director-General of Police of Uttarakhand, Mr. Ashok Kumar, announced in a police officers conference of the state on February 2, 2021, that the state police will check social media accounts of passport applicants and anyone found posting “anti-national” postings would be denied police clearance for passport and arm license. The police department claimed that such a decision was taken after a surge in “anti-national” social media postings.

There is no legal definition of “anti-national” and, therefore, the main purpose of the police action clearly appears to be an act to gag the democratic dissent of the citizens. This order is an arbitrary, illegal, and serious violation of constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and expression.