No more indictment under Section 66A of IT Act: Supreme Court

• The Supreme Court ordered States to stop prosecuting free speech on social media under Section 66A as it was declared unconstitutional in 2015.

Reasons for the Order

• Continued Use of the law instead of being struck down by the SC.
• Misconduct of law.

Direction by the SC Bench

• To Not register any complaint of crime with respect to alleged violation of Section 66A.
• The SC reissued this order in regard to the previous order of March 2015, where the police powers of Section 66A were too wide with scant respect for individual liberty and free expression on the Internet.
• The order was given on a petition of law student Shreya Singhal on the misuse of Section 66A.

Prelims Takeaway

• Right to privacy
• Fundamental rights
• Power of supreme court
• CJI