"May Rob Media's Independence": 2nd High Court Setback For New IT Rules
NDTV
The same clauses 1 and 3 of Rule 9 of the new Information Technology rules had been put on hold on August 16 by the Bombay High Court.
Key sections of the country's new Information Technology rules that seek to regulate digital media outlets were put on hold on Thursday by the Madras High Court, which became the second court to do so after the Bombay High Court last month.
"Prima facie there is substance that the oversight mechanism to control the media by the government may rob the media of its independence and the fourth pillar of the democracy may not be there at all," the Madras High Court said.
"By way of abundant caution, sub-rules 1 and 3 of Rule 9 of the said Rules of 2021 will remain stayed," it added.
The same clauses 1 and 3 of Rule 9 had been put on hold on August 16 by the Bombay High Court. The sections required digital news media to follow the code of conduct laid down by the Press Council of India, a self-regulating press watchdog, and the country's cable TV code.
