SC strikes down 'unconstitutional' IT Act Section 66A

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ANI New Delhi
Last Updated : Mar 24 2015 | 11:13 AM IST

The Supreme Court on Tuesday 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.

Further details are awaited.

A group of petitioners seek the setting aside of the section, which empowers the police to arrest a person for allegedly posting 'offensive materials' on social networking sites.

The first PIL was filed in 2012 after two girls in Thane were arrested after commenting against the shutdown in Mumbai following Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray's death. In 2013, the apex court had come out with an advisory under which a person cannot be arrested without the police receiving permission from senior officers.

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First Published: Mar 24 2015 | 11:03 AM IST

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