Petitioners sought a stay on the Information technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Saying it was not in agreement with the petitioners on passing such an order at this stage, the Delhi High Court Monday refused to stay the new Information Technology rules which seek to regulate digital news media.
Foundation for Independent Journalism, The Wire, Quint Digital Media Ltd and Pravda Media Foundation, parent company of Alt News, on the ground that a fresh notice has been issued to them to comply with the rules or else coercive action will be taken, sought a stay on the Information technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
The notice has been issued to them only for implementation of notification on which there was no stay, said a vacation bench of Justices C Hari Shankar and Subramonium Prasad.
“We are not in agreement with you. If you want we will pass a reasoned detailed order or if you want we can renotify it before the roster bench. You take instructions and let us know,” the bench said.
Nitya Ramakrishnan, representing the news portals, urged the court to list the matter on reopening of courts after vacations after taking instructions.
The court listed the applications for stay before the roster bench on July 7.
The court, meanwhile, also issued notice and sought response of the Centre on a fresh petition by Pravda Media Foundation challenging the vires of IT Rules.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.
