HIGH COURTS STAYED 2 CLAUSES OF THE IT RULES 2021 IMPOSING ARBITRARY, VAGUE AND UN REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON DIGITAL NEWS MEDIA AND THE SOCIAL MEDIA INTERMEDIATORIES.

The Madras High court stayed the operation of the oversight mechanism brought in through the new information technology act rules by the Central Government saying it may rob the media of its independence .The High court stay the operation of the Rule 9(1) and (3) of the information technology ( Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021.The Madras High court pointed the similar order passed by the Bombay High court and said "Indeed there may have been no need to pass an independent order however it is submitted on behalf of the petitioners that not with standing the order passed by the Bombay High court, which ought to have pan India effect, notices have been issued to the petitioners subsequently requiring them to adhere to the rules " .The issue pertains to two separate pleas moved by the Digital News Publishers Association (DNPA) challenging the rules .The petitioner have contended that the rule is ultra virus the parent act - the information technology act - besides imposing arbitrary, vague and unreasonable restrictions on digital news media and the social media intermediaries for which the High court stays two clauses of the IT Rules.