05/06/2021
A Special Leave Petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking CBI/ NIA investigation into the communal/ hate posts that went viral on Twitter last year, during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic.
The development comes at a time when the company and the Government has locked horns over the new IT Rules for regulation of user content.
The petition seeking leave to appeal has been preferred by Advocate Khaja Aijazuddin against the order of the Telangana High Court, directing the Central Government to consider his representation for registering of FIR against Twitter and its users, who spread communal/ hate messages through the social media app.
He has stated that the High Court was "unjustified" in not passing an explicit direction to the Government to register a criminal complaint against Twitter and its users, especially when their actions constitute a criminal offence under Chapter XV of IPC and provisions of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
'Hate Messages': Telangana High Court Asks Home Ministry To Consider Representation For Registration Of FIR Against Twitter, Users
It is further submitted that no steps have been taken by the authorities, in terms of the High Court's direction, to register a complaint against the social media giant.
The grievance of the Petitioner primarily pertains to circulation of "islamophobic" posts on the platform, hurting or insulting the feelings of the particularly community.
He has sought an independent investigation into the inflammatory posts, to be conducted by CBI/ NIA.
He has also urged the Top Court direct the Central Government to frame guidelines as envisaged under the provisions of IT Act, 2000, pertaining to hate messages against any Religious Community including Islamophobic posts on various Social Media platforms.
