Delhi High Court: The Division Bench of Manmohan and Dinesh Kumar Sharma, JJ., in a matter with regard to blocking of a website ‘Dowry Calculator’, directed the MeitY committee to give a copy of the order to the creator of the website.
The Counsel of the petitioner had submitted that the petitioner runs a satirical website under the name “Dowry Calculator”, further he contended that the respondents did not follow the prescribed procedure before taking the impugned action of blocking the said website.
Further, the counsel added that no notice was issued, and no hearing was accorded to the petitioner before blocking the website.
On 11th May 2022, the respondents counsel stated that they were willing to give a post-decisional hearing to the petitioner, including an opportunity to take corrective measures, if found necessary. To this, the petitioner agreed to participate.
Hence, High Court directed the Committee constituted by MeitY under the Blocking Rules, 2009 to give a post-decisional hearing to the counsel for the petitioner on 23-5-2022.
Additionally, the High Court expressed that the copy of the original blocking order, after redacting the portion pertaining to the third parties, shall be furnished to the petitioner after 23rd May, 2022.
Court also directed the Committee under the Blocking Rules, 2009 to furnish a report to this Court as well as to the petitioner.
Matter to be listed on 14-9-2022.[Tanul Thakur v. Union of India, WP(C) 13037 of 2019, decided on 11-5-2022]
Advocates before the Court:
For the Petitioner:
Ms. Vrinda Bhandari with
Mr. Abhinav Sekhri, Mr. Tanmay Singh, ms. Anandita Mishra,
Mr. Krishnesh Bapat, Ms. Amala Dasrathi and Ms. Natasha
Maheshwari, Advocates.
For the Respondents:
Ms. Biji Rajesh with Ms. Heena Kochar, Advocates for Mr. Gaurang Kanth, CGSC for UOI.