Govt. not in favour of curtailing communication on social media: R.S. Prasad

Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre respects freedom of speech and expression and is not in favour of curtailing communication, including criticism, on social media.

Prasad was reacting to the Supreme Court's decision to strike down the controversial Section 66A of the IT Act.

"We respect communication of ideas on social media and we are not in favour of curtailing communication of honest opinion, disapproval or criticism on social media. Section 66A of IT cannot be interpreted in any manner so as to curtail these ideas under the Article 19 (1) of the Constitution," Prasad said.

"It is very important to be noted that in our new affidavit file, apart from reiterating our these new positions, on the behalf of the Government of India we had clearly conveyed that if Section 66A of the IT Act cannot interpreted it consolation with Article 19 (1) read with 19 (2), then we don't support that it at all," he added.

Prasad further said that his government had been willing to add guidelines to the existing section, in order to ensure that the Act was not abused.

"When the hearing commenced, on our instructions, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta conveyed a request to the bench that the government is willing to come with additional, more stringent guidelines so as to prevent abuse of Section 66A of the Act," Prasad said.

"But the honourable court in its wisdom said that since we are hearing the validity of this provision, we will continue. This is how the judgement has come and as I said earlier, I will convey structured response after going through the judgement," he added.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court struck down the IT Act Section 66A, terming it 'unconstitutional'.

According to reports, the apex court ruled that the section falls outside Article 19(2), which relates to Freedom of Speech, and thus has to be struck down in its entirety.