Delhi High Court issues notice to Centre on plea challenging new digital norms

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday issued a notice to centre on petition challenging Information Technology (Guidelines For Intermediaries And Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The court sought the central government's response on the the new IT Rules which meant to regulate intermediaries, OTT platform and digital news media.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice DN Patel was hearing the petition filed by Foundation for Independent Journalism, parent trust of The Wire, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of 'The News Minute' Dhanya Rajendran and Founding Editor of 'The Wire' MK Venu .

Sr. Adv. Nitya Ramakrishnan, appearing for the petitioner argued that despite the Supreme Court striking down S.66A of the Information Technology Act, which had similar provisions for regulating content, the Centre has now brought out these Rules to do indirectly what it cannot do directly.

In February, the government had announced the tightening of rules governing social media and streaming companies, requiring them to take down contentious content quicker, appoint grievance redressal officers and assist investigations.

The rules, titled the Information Technology (Guidelines For Intermediaries And Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, were notified by the Centre on February 25

The petitioner has requested the court to declare the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 as void and inoperative insofar.