DELHI HC REFUSES TO STAY THE NOTICE SEEKING DIGITAL NEWS PORTALS’ COMPLIANCE WITH NEW IT RULES

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday refused to stay the Centre’s May 28 notice asking digital news portals to comply with Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Meanwhile, the court issued notice and sought a response of the Centre on a fresh petition by Pravda Media Foundation challenging the vires of IT Rules.

The Wire, Quint Digital Media Ltd, and Pravda Media Foundation, parent company of Alt News, sought a stay on the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, because a fresh notice had been issued to them to comply with the rules or else coercive action would be taken.

The court listed the applications for stay before the roster bench on July 7.

According to amended IT rules, social media and streaming companies will be required to take down contentious content quicker, appoint grievance redressal officers, and assist in investigations.

“The regulations are frontally offensive to Article 19(1)(a) and Article 14. A restriction on the Fundamental Right to free speech and expression can only be to the extent strictly necessary for the stated interests in Article 19(2). Digital news portals such as the Quint, published by the Petitioners, are already subject to all the civil and criminal laws enacted for those interests. Therefore, the IT Rules, 2021 cannot be in the interest of Article 19(2). They are only meant to be a ruse for the State to enter and directly control the content of digital news portals”, the plea said.