Tuesday 24 March 2015
SC Strikes off the Section 66A of the IT Act 2000 providing Freedom of Speech.
New Delhi, 24 march 2015:
The apex court of India has stroke down the Section 66A of the Information Technology Act of 2000, which allows the police to arrest the people for posting offensive content over the internet. The court has however gave the power to block websites if it contained content that could cause communal clashes, social disturbance, or India’s relation with other nations.
The apex court of India has stroke down the Section 66A of the Information Technology Act of 2000, which allows the police to arrest the people for posting offensive content over the internet. The court has however gave the power to block websites if it contained content that could cause communal clashes, social disturbance, or India’s relation with other nations.
The bench said that the section
66A, is a violation of the fundamental right enshrined by the constitution of
India, which grants ‘Freedom of Speech’ to the Indian citizens. The court also
said that the section was vague and that it hasn’t clearly defined the words
like ‘Offensive’ and also ‘Persistent’.
The judgement was given on the
PIL filed by a law student named Shreya Singhal in 2012, following the arrest
of two girls, of which one posted a comment against the shut down in mumbai after
the death of Shivsena leader Bal Thackrey and the other liked the comment.
So finally the apex court of
India has granted its citizens a freedom of speech on the internet also. So speak
free, but not evil.
Image Source: www.google.co.in
Image Source: www.google.co.in
