Clarify stand or we will suspend 66A: SC to Centre


New Delhi, Dec 3 (Agencies): The Supreme Court on Tuesday set one-week deadline for the Centre to file its response clearing its stand on the contentious provisions of the Information Technology (IT) Act.

Issuing an ultimatum, the top court said that it would revoke sections 66A and 74 of the IT Act if the Centre failed to clarify its stand on a petition by December 9.

The court declined to entertain the plea of additional solicitor general Maninder Singh for two weeks time, saying that the notice in the matter was issued Nov 30, 2012 and since then it is pending.

"If the country can manage without IT Act for decades then it can manage without it for two weeks. We will suspend the act then take as long as you want. It is pending for two years," Justice Chelameswar.

The apex court's ultimatum comes in the backdrop of a string of cases being made against Internet users by invoking sections 66A and 74.

The controversial provisions of sections 66A and 74 was signed into law by the UPA-II government that chiefly legally facilitated the powerful to target Internet users when they felt offended.

Section 66A of Information Technology Act, 2000, permits for proceeding against people posting annoying and inconvenient comments on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter and other electronic media.

Ever since these provisions of IT Act came into effect, several Internet users and artists were arrested, jailed and tried for posting or circulating "objectionable" contents online.

Two girls, Shaheen Dhada and Rinu Shrinivasan, were arrested in Mumbai for their Facebook posts, which was deemed by Shiv Sena as "objectionable" against its chief late Bal Thackeray. The girls were critical about the Mumbai bandh in the wake of the death of Bal Thackeray in their posts.

The incident prompted petitioner Shreya Singhal to move the Supreme Court, questioning the Constitutional validity of sections 66A and 74.

In the view of increasing cases of arrests of Internet users, the Centre last year made it mandatory for all the states and union territories to seek a prior permission of an Inspector General/DCP rank officer before arresting a person under these provisions.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Joseph F. Gonsalves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Wed, Dec 03 2014

    Chaaiwaala says:

    Dear Supreme Court Judges I have no time for your Act to act upon within a week time.

    I am touring to see the world gardens and campaigning for bjp all over Hindustan.

    Moreover I am liking to tour to Europe, Australia etc.,

    T.V's channels desire my speech 24X7 and I am daily preparing speech for them.

    My P.R.O's are enjoying my Ullu speech.

    To some of the channels Chup Raho don't say my P.R.O'are fools.

    Ullu banaayega nahi tho 26 U turns in 6 months who can do it/perform it???!!!

    I would surely beat Mohammed bin Thuglaq - Chaaiwaala says.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Stan, Udupi/ Dubai

    Wed, Dec 03 2014

    When the political leaders abuse publicly no action will be taken against them whereas they want to prevent small time writers to express their views which may not be as abusive and derogatory as of our leaders.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Wed, Dec 03 2014

    66A IS A MERE ARM TWISTING TOOL USED BY POLITICIANS TO PROTECT THEIR POSITIONS AND HAS TO GO ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vellano1, Mumbai

    Wed, Dec 03 2014

    but...did u tell that to earlier government and that zero brain IT minister Kapil sibal?... u were supporting it instead!

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • G Z T Kunte, Udupi

    Wed, Dec 03 2014

    Even the exe cutives of Public Sector Banks like Central Bank of India was found to have misused section 66-A to harass their employees and the Honourable Court had passed strictures against such misuse of section 66 A by Bank exe cutives to settle petty scores with their lower level employees.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • vellano1, Mumbai

    Wed, Dec 03 2014

    no matter who is ruling and what BJP says, now it is in power!! 66A MUST GO..... if SC does it or current govt, I dont care.. it is evil law designed for misuse!! that is what I have been opposing it..... I said same during raghaveshawara case, Shastri daughters misused it.. i believe everyone opposed my commen t then too :)

    DisAgree [5] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse


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