Supreme Court demands explanation from State of UP over arrest of youth due to Facebook post

The Supreme Court of India today ordered the State of UP to furnish an explanation regarding arrest of a boy over a Facebook post that was reportedly against senior Samajwadi Party leader and Minister in the UP Government, Mr. Azam Khan.

The Court which had already reserved judgment in the bunch of petitions filed against S. 66 A of the IT Act, had decided to hear in the matter, after the arrest of the boy who studies in class XII.

The Bench comprising of Justices J Chelameswar and R F Nariman said "We will examine," after it was submitted that the arrest was in violation of Supreme Court advisory that section 66A of the Information Technology Act would not be invoked without consultation of high ranking police officers like IG or DCP.

Earlier, when Senior Advocate Soli Sorabjee had submitted to the Apex Court that a stay order be passed against operation of S. 66A of the IT Act, the Court had said, "Very often the laws are misused but we can not stay all laws because of being misused."

Reportedly, the person arrested in the present case has been given bail by court. Earlier, an order for14 day judicial custody was passed by a local court on March 18.

Shreya Singhal, a law student, filed the petition against 66A of the IT Act. The same was filed after two girls were arrested in Maharashtra in relation to a Facebook post regarding late Balasaheb Thackrey.

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