Latest


SC to Examine Validity of Section 66A of the IT Act

  •   Thu, Nov 29 2012 12:27:16 PM

New Delhi, Nov 29 (IANS): The Supreme Court will Thursday examine the constitutional validity of Section 66A of the IT Act in the wake of recent arrests of people for posting comments critical of politicians.

The apex court headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir directed the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL).

The petition was filed by Shreyansh Singhal, drawing the court's attention to the largescale misuse of section 66A.

The section provides for action against people for posting offensive and annoying comments on websites or other electronic mediums.

As senior counsel Mukul Rohtagi mentioned the matter before the court, the chief justice observed: "We were wondering why nobody has filed a petition on the issue. In fact we were considering taking suo motto cognizance of these incidents."

The PIL petitioner has drawn the attention of the court on some incidents of misuse of section 66A of the IT Act.

In April, Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra was arrested in Kolkata for circulating a cartoon depicting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

More recently, a young woman, Shaheen Dhada, and her friend were arrested in Maharashtra for a Facebook post questioning Mumbai's shutdown following Bal Thackeray's death.
  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Lawrence, India

    Thu, Nov 29 2012

    Let SC decide whose dead bodies are to be covered with National Flag. I believe the Military personnel, first responders, head of the state, high level National/International award winners and person who has done selfless service to the society deserve the honor of state funeral. However, every legislators, whether they are good or bad, getting this honor. I havn't seen any Judges or bureaucrats below the level of governor getting state funeral.
    Why is this inequality among the branches of the government. No offence to anyone.... I am just afraid to voice my opinion - an experience of National Emergency in mid 70s.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincy, Bangkok

    Thu, Nov 29 2012

    SC should keep an eye on all wrong arrests made by the police in all states. All police are not law literate to handle the crucial cases like what happened in Mumbai last week. They simply arrested based on the sena crowd and their screaming’s and now suspended for the same. It is common sense in a democracy, that people have every right to post their views in a media or website. The who one who gather are not aware of the laws of the country but blindly believed Thackeray as their saviour.He did nothing but devided the Marathi and the north Indians and thus elected for three years corrupt ruling in Mumbai.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: SC to Examine Validity of Section 66A of the IT Act



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.

You might also like