The Madras High Court received Centre’s counter affidavit filed in response to petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021).
Petitions have been filed seeking a declaration of IT Rules 2021, “ultra vires, void and violative of Articles 14, Article 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution “.
Carnatic vocalist and Ramon Magsaysay awardee TM Krishna, Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) as well as journalist Mukund Padmanabhan, filed the petition.
Additional Solicitor General R. Sankaranayaranan had on earlier occasion informed the court that the counter affidavit was prepared and it sought one last extension to submit the Union’s response on it.
The Court has rebuked the Union for the repeated delay in filing their response.
On Friday, Senior Advocate P.S Raman informed the Bench that the Centre had filed an ‘exhaustive’ 120 page counter affidavit.
The matter has been adjourned for further hearing on September 14.
Lawcutor 