Delhi HC slams Twitter for non-compliance over 'contingent' appointments

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday slammed Twitter for appointing chief compliance officer and grievance officer as 'contigent workers' and alleged that the micro-blogging platform was showing "total non-compliance" to IT rules '21.

"What is this term contingent worker? What does this mean? This gives an impression that his duties are based on some contingencies," remarked a single-judge bench of Justice Rekha Palli. The High Court was hearing a plea filed by Amit Acharya, through advocate Akash Vajpai, against the non-compliance by Twitter India and Twitter Inc with the IT Rules, 2021.

Senior advocate Sajan Poovayya, representing Twitter, had submitted that two affidavits have been filed before the court regarding the appointments and that the site will no longer use the word 'interim'. However, the court said that this is "even worse" and demanded a clearer affidavit, "It's a chief compliance officer, there has to be some seriousness about the post. This in itself is in the teeth of the rule," said the court. It further demanded to know why the appointment was made via a third party contractor whose name has not been revealed.

"You do business here, earn so much revenue but don't comply with rules... the court has given you a long rope," it noted. "This is not done. Tell me. I don't understand, you are saying contingent, this is not compliance. Are you serious?" the court asked.

"This is repeated non-compliance by nuance terminologies and seeking time. Your lordship is correct, if they want to comply, comply wholeheartedly," said Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma representing the Centre.

The court granted Twitter one week to file a better affidavit in line with the earlier orders as a final opportunity. The matter has been adjourned to August 6. Poovayya assured the court that Twitter would file a clearly-worded affidavit in the matter.