"What Was The Necessity": High Court Questions Centre Over New IT Rules

The new IT Rules, the centre insists, are required to ensure online news websites comply with the law, and content on social media and OTT platforms like Netflix is regulated

The Bombay High Court on Friday asked the centre to explain its introduction of the new IT rules without it superseding (taking the place of) existing provisions that have been in effect since 2009. "Under 69A (1) (ii) of the IT Act, the 2009 Rules have been framed. What was the necessity for the union government to bring in subsequent rules without superseding prior rules..." the court asked Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, who was appearing for the centre. Mr Singh said the centre wanted new laws to check the spread of fake news and offensive content. A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni was hearing petitions - filed by digital news website The Leaflet and journalist Nikhil Wagle - seeking an interim stay on implementation of the recently notified Information Technology (IT) Rules, 2021.