New IT rules Supreme Court refuses to stay proceeding before various HCs

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay proceedings in connection with petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Centre's new IT rules before various high courts.

The Centre had moved the Supreme Court seeking transfer of all petitions to it, citing multiplicity of proceedings. Several high courts, including Delhi, Bombay, Madras and Kerala High Courts are hearing petitions against the IT rules. In its plea, the Centre said, the issue of regulating the OTT platform was pending before the top court.

A bench comprising of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Sanjiv Khanna tagged the central government petition, seeking transfer of all such cases to the top court, with an appeal filed by Justice for Rights Foundation, which is pending before the court. The bench also refused to pass a direction for an interim stay on the proceedings before various high courts hearing pleas challenging the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, submitted that there were cases pending before the top court challenging the IT Rules. (IANS)

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