Kerala Withdraws Order Restricting Scientists From Sharing Wayanad Reports

The note had said that the scientific community should restrain themselves from sharing their opinions and study reports with the media.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed Chief Secretary V Venu to withdraw a controversial note issued by the State Disaster Management Authority, which restrained science and technology institutions in the state from sharing their opinions and study reports with the media regarding the recent deadly landslides in Wayanad.

In a statement on Thursday night, Vijayan said the news that the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) had directed scientific institutions and scientists not to visit the disaster-affected Meppadi Panchayat in Wayanad and not to express their opinions was misleading.

"The state government does not have such a policy," the Chief Minister said.