IT Rules On Code Of Ethics For Digital Media Stayed By Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court stayed on Saturday stayed Clauses 9 (1) and 9 (3) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021 for digital media which pertain to adherence to code of ethics

Provisions of the government's new Information Technology Rules for news publishers that deal with a code of ethics have been put on hold by the Bombay High Court which said the requirements violated freedom of speech. The rules had been challenged by news publishers in several courts in the country. The high court stayed on Saturday stayed Clauses 9 (1) and 9 (3) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021 for digital media which pertain to adherence to code of ethics, news agency PTI reported. "Clauses 9 (1) and 9 (3) of IT Rules, 2021, which lay down that all publishers should follow a code of ethics, violate freedom of speech under Article 19 of the constitution," the High Court was quoted as saying. Last month, in a setback to the government, the Supreme Court had refused to stop different courts from hearing challenges to the new rules, which were introduced by the centre in February.