Court refuses interim protection to Quint, Wire against coercive action for non-compliance with IT rules

Digital news platforms the Quint and the Wire were refused interim protection against coercive action for non-compliance with the new IT rules by the Delhi High Court today. Both websites had earlier sought a stay on the implementation of the rules as well as interim protection from coercive action, Live Law reported.

Bar and Bench reported that Alt News was also refused interim relief.

While senior advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan, counsel for the digital publications, told the court that she was ready to argue the stay and main applications of the case, the government wanted time till August 20 to file their counter affidavit.

Additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma told the court that 1,200 digital media houses, including independent publishers, had already complied with the rules. Ramakrishnan retorted, “We have challenged the rules, they haven't. What they're trying to do is in the face of a Supreme Court order which says government control of the media is unacceptable."

Refusing any stay on implementation of the notification regarding the IT rules, the bench had said, "The matter is pending before the regular division bench, no stay was granted. They are only implementing the notification on which there is no stay. There is no question of interim relief.”

However the bench added that in case any coercive steps are taken, the petitioners would be at liberty to seek an urgent hearing.