Wrong Indian Map Depiction May Cost 100 Crores Fine or 7 years Jail

Wrong depiction of Indian map can land the violators into jail for maximum of seven years or fine upto 100 crores as per the newly drafted “The Geospatial Information Regulation Bill, 2016”, by Ministry of Home Affairs.

The draft says the proposal is to regulate the acquisition, dissemination, publication and distribution of geospatial information of India, including international boundaries, which is likely to affect the security, sovereignty and integrity of India.

As per the 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 a co-ordinate system and having attributes;

“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,” the bill adds.

The government will also set up “Security Vetting Authority” that will look into the requests related to acquire, disseminate, publish or distribute any geospatial information of India before granting the licence or rejecting the application. 

The obtained licensee shall display the insignia of the clearance of the ‘Security Vetting Authority’ on the geospatial information by appropriate means such as water-marking or licence as relevant. 

The government has put this draft in the public domain and seeks comments/suggestions from all stakeholders and citizens on this and asks them to drop them at the joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, North Block, New Delhi at email id: jsis@nic.in within 30 days.

 

The proposed bill is likely to come in the next mansoon sessions of Parliament after cabinet clearance.

At present, the Google Maps and some other organization services whoever depicting the Indian map need to take prior license for clearance before they carry out the geospatial imagery, else they fall under this law for necessary actions.