LI Network
Published on: 12 August 2023 at 12:15 IST
The Delhi police have taken a significant step towards combating emerging cyber crime trends by establishing fifteen dedicated cyber police stations, one in each district of the national capital.
This development was communicated to the Delhi High Court in response to Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking the enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act for lodging FIRs in cases of alleged cyber crimes.
In its response, the Delhi police highlighted that individuals can conveniently report cyber crimes online or through the 24/7 helpline number ‘1930.’
The Centre’s reply underscored that states and union territories are encouraged to organize awareness programs to educate the public about the implementation of cyber laws.
The PIL sought the invocation of relevant sections of the Information Technology Act when filing complaints for FIRs related to cyber crimes.
The police responded by indicating that some cases are registered solely under the Information Technology (IT) Act, while others incorporate pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) as well.
The police elaborated that traditional laws such as the IPC can be applied to address various cyber-related crimes and offenses, including instances involving hate speech, stalking, online recruitment for terrorist agendas, and deceptive messaging.
The response noted the difference in the nature of offenses under the IT Act and the IPC, emphasizing that the latter has more stringent punishments.
In addressing the issue of cyber crimes, the police conveyed that while some cases are registered exclusively under the IT Act, others involve both the IT Act and the IPC, based on the specific circumstances of each case.
This approach enables a comprehensive assessment that aligns the legal framework with the offense and appropriate remedies.
The police further stated, “In order to combat the emerging cyber trends, 15 cyber police stations have been established in each District of Delhi.”
The Cyber Crime Unit has been renamed the Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations Unit, which is mandated to gather intelligence and conduct operations to counter new cyber crimes.
Additionally, the police informed the court that they have collaborated with Truecaller to identify fake numbers, bestowing verified police personnel numbers with a green badge and verified government service numbers with a blue tick.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s response noted the appointment of adjudicating officers at the state and union territory levels to handle IT Act violations and impose penalties.
The Ministry stated that states and union territories are responsible for providing infrastructure and online visibility for the proper functioning of these adjudicating officers, and for organizing awareness programs to inform the public about their roles.
The petitioner in the case, Ph.D. scholar Ananya Kumar, aimed to address the non-implementation of various provisions of the Information Technology Act, expressing concern about the misuse of public funds spent on establishing and operating specialized cyber police stations.
The PIL also sought to draw attention to the improper registration of FIRs by the police, and the petitioner called for appropriate measures to ensure compliance with the law and mass awareness about adjudicating officer appointments.