“Shocking, Terrible”: Supreme Court Serves Notice To Centre Over Cases Under Scrapped Law

NEW DELHI: The Apex Court on Monday expressed shock and concern on being told that more than 1,000 cases have been filed invoking Section 66A of the IT Act.

The controversial act in the question, which allowed authorities to arrest individuals for posting “offensive” content online, was scrapped seven years ago.

A three-member bench of Justices R Nariman, KM Joseph and BR Gavai said: “It is shocking. We will issue notice.” Justice Nariman added: “Amazing. What is going on is terrible.”

The harsh comments by the Supreme Court came while hearing a plea by an NGO – the People Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) – seeking directions to the centre to advise all police stations against registering FIRs under this law.

After it was first challenged by a law student named Shreya Singhal, Sec 66A was struck down on March 24, 2014.

The scrapping of the law came after two young women were arrested in Mumbai in 2012 for posting comments critical of the total shutdown in the city after the death of Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.