New IT Rules: High Court Grants More Time To Centre To File Counter-Affidavit

Counter Affidavit for New IT Rules: The First Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu which granted time to the central government to file its counter, posted the matter for hearing after 15 days.

The Madras High Court today granted 10 more days to the Centre to file its counter-affidavit in response to a batch of PILs or pleas challenging the new Information Technology (IT) Rules. The First Bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu which granted time to the central government to file its counter, posted the matter for hearing after 15 days. The petitions filed by Carnatic music singer TM Krishna, Digital News Publishers of India, former Editor of The Hindu, N Ram and a senior journalist sought to declare the recently notified Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, as ultra vires (beyond the powers) of the Constitution and the parent Information Technology Act, passed in 2000. Among other things, the petitioners contended that Part III of the impugned Rules imposes illegitimate restrictions on the right to freedom of expression, guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.