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SC strikes down Section 66A of IT Act

by IBNS 24 Mar 2015, 11:43 am

New Delhi, Mar 24 (IBNS): In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down the Section 66A of IT Act.

The apex court hold the section violative of 19(1) A of the Constitution which guarantees the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression to citizens.

The verdict on the issue was pronounced by a bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Rohinton F Nariman.

Under this section, the police had the power to arrest people for posting objectionable content online.

In this case, a conviction can give a maximum of three years in jail.

The validity of the section was challenged by a law student Shreya Singal and others.

After the apex court pronounced its verdict, Shreya Singhal said: It a big victory...The judges have upheld the rights of the citizens today."

"It has been misused. One needs to remember that the law should be for the people," she said.

 Another petitioner, Bangladeshi writer

Taslima Nasreen tweeted: "A censorship ruling by the Supreme Court today could change the way the internet works for you."