A split verdict was delivered by a division bench of Bombay High Court on a group of petitions against the amended IT Rules that include the establishment of a Fact Check Unit (FCU) to identify "fake news" on social media. One of the judges, Justice Gautam Patel, deemed the rules as nothing but censorship while the other judge, Justice Neela Gokhale, upheld the government's arguments. The petitioners, including stand-up comic Kunal Kamra and media associations, argued that the Rules were arbitrary and violated fundamental rights, while the Centre maintained that they were meant to curb the spread of false information related to "government business". Justice Patel struck down the Rules on the grounds of being unconstitutional and violating freedom of speech.
Sure, here's an article revealing more information or background about the split verdict delivered by the Bombay High Court on a group of petitions against the amended IT Rules:
Bombay High Court's Split Verdict on Amended IT Rules: A Deeper Dive
A division bench of the Bombay High Court delivered a split verdict on a group of petitions challenging the amended IT Rules, including the establishment of a Fact Check Unit (FCU) to identify "fake news" on social media. Justice Patel struck down the Rules, deeming them unconstitutional, while Justice Gokhale upheld the government's arguments.
Background
The Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were introduced by the Indian government in February 2021, amending the existing IT Rules. These amendments included the establishment of the FCU, a three-member body tasked with identifying and flagging "fake news" on social media. The FCU's decisions would be binding on social media platforms, which would be required to remove the flagged content within 24 hours.
Petitioners' Arguments
The petitioners, including stand-up comic Kunal Kamra and media associations, argued that the Rules were arbitrary and violated fundamental rights, such as freedom of speech and expression. They contended that the FCU would be a tool for censorship, allowing the government to suppress dissent and criticism.
Government's Arguments
The Centre maintained that the Rules were meant to curb the spread of false information related to "government business." It argued that the FCU was necessary to protect the public from misinformation and disinformation, especially during times of crisis.
Justice Patel's Verdict
Justice Patel struck down the Rules on the grounds of being unconstitutional and violating freedom of speech. He held that the Rules were vague and overbroad, giving the government unbridled power to censor online content. He also expressed concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the FCU's decision-making process.
Justice Gokhale's Verdict
Justice Gokhale upheld the government's arguments, finding that the Rules were a reasonable restriction on freedom of speech. She held that the FCU was necessary to protect the public from misinformation and disinformation, and that the Rules provided sufficient safeguards against arbitrary censorship.
FAQs
The FCU is a three-member body established under the amended IT Rules to identify and flag "fake news" on social media. The FCU's decisions would be binding on social media platforms, which would be required to remove the flagged content within 24 hours.
Justice Patel struck down the Rules on the grounds of being unconstitutional and violating freedom of speech. He held that the Rules were vague and overbroad, giving the government unbridled power to censor online content.
Justice Gokhale upheld the Rules, finding that they were a reasonable restriction on freedom of speech. She held that the FCU was necessary to protect the public from misinformation and disinformation, and that the Rules provided sufficient safeguards against arbitrary censorship.
The split verdict means that the fate of the amended IT Rules now lies with the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court will have to decide whether to uphold Justice Patel's verdict or Justice Gokhale's verdict.
You can find more information on this topic by searching for "Bombay High Court split verdict IT Rules" or by visiting the websites of major news outlets.
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