Law minister wants checks on online gag law

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that he had given “clear instructions” that Section 66A of the IT Act should be used “only in serious situations”, and only when cleared by “the highest authorities”. Prasad, who is also Communications and IT Minister, was speaking at the national law commission consultation on media laws, a two-day event which started Saturday.

“In extreme situations, like if the website is to be blamed for communal tensions or there are terrorist organisations using the platform…it should be used. And it must be vetted by the highest police authorities and the IT secretary,” said Prasad.