New Delhi: Wrong depiction of the map of India could land the
violators in jail with a maximum term of seven years and fine upto Rs 100 crore.
This measure has been envisaged by the government against the
backdrop of instances where certain social networking sites showed Jammu and
Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh as part of Pakistan and China respectively.
Recently, 'Twitter' had shown the geographical location of Kashmir in China and
Jammu in Pakistan triggering protests from the Indian government after which it
was corrected. According to the draft 'The Geospatial Information Regulation
Bill 2016', it will be mandatory to take permission from a government authority
before acquiring, disseminating, publishing or distributing any geospatial
information of India.
"No person shall depict, disseminate, publish or distribute any wrong or
false topographic information of India including international boundaries
through internet platforms or online services or in any electronic or physical
form.
"Whoever acquired any geospatial information of India in contravention of
the law shall be punished with a fine ranging from Rs 1 crore to Rs 100 crore
and/ or imprisonment for a period upto seven years," according to the
draft bill.
Geospatial Information means geospatial imagery or data acquired through space
or aerial platforms such as satellite, aircrafts, airships, balloons, unmanned
aerial vehicles including value addition or graphical or digital data depicting
natural or man-made physical features, phenomenon or boundaries of the earth or
any information related thereto including surveys, charts, maps, terrestrial
photos referenced to co-ordinate system and having attributes.
The government also proposed to set up a Security Vetting Authority to carry
out security vetting of the Geospatial Information of India in a time bound
manner and as per the regulations framed by an apex committee.
The Security Vetting Authority shall consist of an officer of the rank of Joint
Secretary to the government of India or above as chairman and two members--one
a technical expert and the other, a national security expert.
"Any person who wants to acquire, disseminate, publish or distribute any
geospatial information of India, may make an application along with requisite
fees to the Authority for security vetting of such geospatial information and
licence thereof to acquire, disseminate, publish or distribute such Geospatial
Information in any electronic or physical form," the draft bill says.
India News Desk
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