Centre asked to file report sanctioning websites' prosecution

The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to file its report according sanction to prosecute 21 websites, including Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, for allegedly promoting enmity between classes and causing prejudice to national integration.

"You file the report tomorrow," Justice Suresh Kait asked the counsel for the Centre and posted the petitions of Google India and Facebook India for further hearing on February 16.

Out of 21 websites summoned by a trial court for allegedly promoting enmity between classes and causing prejudice to national integration, Google India and Facebook India had moved the high court challenging the summonses to them on various grounds including the one that they had no control on the contents posted by users on their websites.

The Centre had earlier filed the report before a metropolitan magistrate that there was "sufficient material" to proceed against the websites for the offences alleged by complainant Vinay Rai.