The government's decision to prosecute social networking sites like Google and Facebook has triggered public anger, with netizens saying the move is tantamount to clamping down on constitutional rights of free speech and individual liberty.
Deccan Chronicle has reported that several users of social networking sites have decided to approach the high courts in their states seeking protection of their accounts on Facebook and other such sites.
The move came with the centre granting approval for prosecuting 21 social networking sites, including Facebook, Google and others, and the Delhi High Court threatening to shut down such websites.
A senior advocate practising in the Supreme Court claimed that he has been approached by several users of various social networking sites from Gurgaon, Noida and Bengaluru to move the court as they were apprehensive that the Delhi High Court may direct the central government to block these sites.
“Users in cities like Gurgaon and Noida are constitutionally entitled to reject the wisdom of the Delhi High Court and seek protection from their own High Courts. Similarly, users elsewhere in India are equally entitled to protect their access to Facebook and other sites by approaching their respective high courts,” the advocate said.
They can also seek a direction to the state government to limit the order of the Delhi High Court to the territory of Delhi only, and not to the territory or state of the aggrieved Internet users, the advocate added.
Reaction
"This censorship is totally useless, the government is trying to curb freedom of speech and expression, which is everyone's right," Kartik Dayanand, a social media consultant and blogger, said.
The government last Friday gave the green signal to proceed against 21 social networking sites for hosting 'objectionable content' promoting enmity between groups and harming national interest.
But most people view this censorship as an excuse to curb freedom of expression.
Anirudh Salve, a content writer, said: "Social media provides ultimate freedom space for people who want to express themselves. By snatching this freedom, the government is trying to spoil the basic tenets of democracy, which is not acceptable."
"Inflammatory content on internet cannot be accepted. It hurts some people's sentiments, but this is no way to rectify that problem. Putting curbs on these websites will hamper our sense of liberty," said Jatin Panchi, an engineering student from Indraprastha University.