Kerala

Citizens group in Kerala to file PIL against IT Act

Written by : TNM

The News Minute| September 9, 2014| 10.00 am ISTA Public Interest Litigation (PIL) is soon going to be filed in the Kerala High Court demanding the repeal of some sections of the Information Technology Act, 2000. A group of citizens active in Facebook, Twitter and Watsapp fighting for individual freedom rights has initiated this move. The group has taken to Facebook to garner support for their PIL. The post says that there are certain sections in the IT Act like the 66 (A) which is unconstitutional. It is easy to victimize and get people arrested for their posts in social media platforms than the print and other mainstream visual media, it says, reports the Malayalam online paper Manorama Online.It says that only if one approaches the court and gets an order issued; arrests can be made in cases where the message is published in the print media. While in the case of social media, sections like 66 (A) give powers to the police to make arrests even without a prior court order.  Section 66 (A) of the IT Act reads:Any person who sends, by means of a computer resource or a communication device,—(a) any information that is grossly offensive or has menacing character; or(b) any information which he knows to be false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will, persistently by making use of such computer resource or a communication device,(c) any electronic mail or electronic mail message for the purpose of causing annoyance or inconvenience or to deceive or to mislead the addressee or recipient about the origin of such messages,shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine.Many people have been victims because of this provision of the Act. Some organizations had earlier submitted petitions to the government demanding the repeal of this section but to no avail. It remains to be seen whether the courts will give respite.

Rahul Gandhi with KC Venugopal

Being KC Venugopal: Rahul Gandhi's trusted lieutenant

Amit Shah says BJP supports probe into allegations against Prajwal Revanna

Opinion: Why the Congress manifesto has rattled corporate monopolies, RSS and BJP

TN sex for cash scam: Nirmala Devi convicted, two acquitted

Kerala heatwave: Holiday declared for edu institutions in Palakkad till May 2