J&K Orders Crackdown on Fake Journalists, Mandates DIPR Verification

Overview

• Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha directed Deputy Commissioners and SSPs to identify imposters and build district-wise lists of bona fide journalists verified by the DIPR.
• The administration told departments to share press releases and invites only with names on the DIPR roster, effectively limiting official engagement to accredited reporters.
• A DIPR circular requires live rosters updated weekly, 24‑hour reporting of imposters, adherence to Press Council ethics, and warns that several extortion cases are booked with more arrests expected.
• Individuals running online portals or social media pages under the banner of journalism must register and obtain DIPR verification, with platforms held accountable for their content.
• The moves follow Assembly complaints over doctored reels and harassment, as senior Jammu Press Club figures urge bans on named portals and praise an extortion exposé by State Times.