DELHI HC ISSUES NOTICE TO THE CENTRE ON QUINT’S PLEA CHALLENGING THE NEW IT RULES

19th March 2021

Recently, the Delhi HC sought a response from the central government over a plea filed the Quint challenging the new IT rules - particularly part III of the rules, which seeks to regulate digital media publication and social media intermediaries. Social media and streaming companies will be required to take down content quicker and assist in the investigation. This will also grant power to the centre the right to remove content.

Adv Nitya Ramakrishna, appearing on behalf of the Quint, argued that the rules in so far as they define and apply to current affair content are void and inoperative. It is also violative of Article 14, 19 (1) (a), 19 (1) (g), and 21 of the constitution. The Quint further submitted that the regulations are ultra vires, as it goes beyond the jurisdiction laid out by the IT Act. The IT rules, 2021, only affect the digital news portals; print newspapers and online news portals should be treated on par as they both contain written materials on current affairs.

The Delhi HC listed the matter on 16th April along with another similar petition filed earlier by Foundation for independent journalism (wire).

Author: Papiha Ghoshal

PC: YouTube