Chandigarh: Haryana based media house Gaon Savera Trust has reportedly challenged Government of India’s move to invoke section 69-A of Information Technology Act 2000 to block social media handles of Gaon Savera and its’ editor.
Talking to Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone, Gaon Savera editor Mandeep Punia confirmed the move.
A petition has been filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the withholding of ‘X’ and ‘Youtube’ accounts of a Trust and its journalist-Editor, for covering Farmers’ Protest.
As per the plea, the accounts were blocked on Centre’s request citing “national security and public order concerns”.
The petitioners submitted that on February 16, their X and Youtube accounts were withheld for disseminating information on ongoing Farmers’ Protest. A notice was sent by X stating that the accounts have been withheld on “legal removal demand” from the Government of India claiming the content violates Information Technology Act, 2000.
Similarly, a notice was issued to block the Youtube Channel stating that an order was received from the government related to “national security or public order”, the plea stated.
The plea states that action is “illegal” as there is no compliance of section 69A of the IT Act and the power to issue blocking orders vested with the Designated Officer of Ministry of Electronics and IT is content-specific and the accounts or channels cannot be blocked.