Greeva Garg –
The Kerala High Court while hearing a plea filed by News Broadcasters Association (NBA), granted Interim Relief in their favour.
The NBA challenged the Information Technology (IT) Rules 2021, cases of abuse of the discretion of Government actions from that of parent Act.
The 2021 rules regulate the functioning of online media portals and publishers, over-the-top (OTT) platforms and social media intermediaries.
“They give Government Authorities excessive powers to unreasonably and impermissibly restrict the freedom of speech and expression of the media,” the plea stated.
The vacation bench headed by Justice PB Suresh Kumar issued notice to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, restraining them from taking any repressive actions against NBA organisations in regard to new IT rules.
Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for the NBA challenging the three-tier oversight mechanism in new IT rules stated that, “Part III (Code of Ethics and Procedure and Safeguards in relation to Digital Media) of the IT rules as they create an “oversight mechanism giving the executive unfettered, unbridled and excessive powers to regulate the content of digital news media.”
Advocate Maninder Singh referred to the grant of Interim protection by the Kerala High Court to other digital media houses in their pleas.
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