REMOVE SECTION 66A OF IT ACT

On 23^rd December 2008, the last day of winter session of the 14^th Lok Sabha, a draconian law was passed in 7 minutes time without any discussion and this law, passed without proper deliberation,  was the amended Information Technology Act 2000. This act included its section 66 A under which many persons have been arrested for expressing their free opinion in the social media on many political and social matters. No member of Parliament either left or right raised any objection to this Act when it was passed in Parliament. That proves that all the politicians whether of ruling parties or opposition parties saw eye to eye in the case of this Black Law. The classical proof of the harshness of this Act was proved when two girls were arrested in Mumbai for expressing their opposition to giving a day’s holiday in connection with the demise of Siva Sena leader Bal Thackeray. The girls were arrested by the police giving rise to widespread protest in India. Recently an social activist in Andhra was also arrested based on the same section of the IT Act.

The paradox is that for the same offence only a civil case is charged against the print media where as in the case of an offence in the social media immediate arrest and criminal prosecution are resorted to. This is wanton violation of right for freedom of speech and expression as guaranteed under Article 19(1a) of the Indian Constitution.

Our politicians know that print and visual media are amenable to government diktats due to patronage in the form of advertisement etc. Also our print and visual media are owned by big corporate houses which can be influenced by powers that be by government bonanza in the form of incentives and tax exemption.

I request all of you to come together and oppose Section 66 A of the IT Act and compel the government to withdraw it.