The Union Government undertakes to incorporate Rules and Regulations to regulate social media platforms safer from the use of profanity and vulgar language.

IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ..... Petitioner

versus

STATE (GOVT.OF NCT OF DELHI) & ANR.                                                                                                                                                               ..... Respondents

Through: Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, APP for the State.

Ms. Monika Arora, CGSC with Mr.

Subhrodeep Saha and Mr. Yash

Tyagi, Advocates for UOI.

Y                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ..... Petitioner

versus

STATE & ANR.                                                                                                                                                                                                              ..... Respondents

Through: Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, APP for the State.

Ms. Monika Arora, CGSC with Mr.

Subhrodeep Saha and Mr. Yash

Tyagi, Advocates for UOI.

Z                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  ..... Petitioner

versus

STATE OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR.                                                                                                                                                                             ..... Respondents

Through: Mr. Naresh Kumar Chahar, APP for the State.

Ms. Monika Arora, CGSC with Mr.

Subhrodeep Saha and Mr. Yash

Tyagi, Advocates for UOI.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE SWARANA KANTA SHARMA

O R D E R

17.08.2023

1. Compliance report on behalf of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has been filed pursuant to order passed by this Court dated 12.04.2023 whereby this Court had sought compliance of its judgment dated 06.03.2023 in above-captioned petitions from the concerned Ministries.

2. In the compliance report placed before this Court today, it has been stated on behalf of Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) as under:

“...4. That further, in addition to the above, the answering respondent/MeitY, as part of its regular exercise on police making for the techno-legal ecosystem, gives due consideration to the observations of this Hon‟ble Court in its judgment to regulate the social media platforms/intermediaries for making it safer from the use of vulgar languages, including profanity, bad words, which can be a true threat to impressionable minds as per the existing procedure...”

3. It is stated that Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has taken note of the directions and observations made by this Court in its judgment dated 06.03.2023 and further orders dated 12.04.2023 and 01.06.2023, and the relevant paragraphs i.e. 60, 76, 84 and 85 of the judgment in this regard. It is stated that it is a policy decision and having taken note of the concerns of this Court expressed through its directions, the concerned Ministry, while undertaking its regular exercise of policy making, will incorporate rules/regulations to regulate the social media platforms, intermediaries for making it safer from the use of vulgar language including profanity, bad words, etc., as per the judgment of this Court.

4. Considering the same, this Court while taking note of the fact that it is a policy decision which is to be undertaken by the Ministry and the legislature, it is sufficient compliance of the order of this Court. This Court has been assured that the concerns of this Court expressed through the said judgment will be incorporated in the future rules and regulations which will be shortly undertaken.

5. In view thereof, the matter stands disposed of.

6. The order be uploaded on the website forthwith.

SWARANA KANTA SHARMA, J

AUGUST 17, 2023/zp