SC Refuses To Review Its Order Dismissing PIL Seeking Guidelines To Curb Fake News [Read Order]

The Supreme Court recently refused to review its order dismissing a writ petition seeking framing of guidelines to curb the spread of fake news through print, electronic and social media.

A PIL was filed in 2019 by a lawyer, Anuja Kapur, highlighting fake news and misinformation flooded media in the wake of recent India-Pakistan tension, with videos of previous air-shows and photos of crashing fighter jets were being peddled as the latest from both the countries on various platforms.

She had sought directions to the Central Ministries of Law & Justice, Information and Broadcasting and Electronics and Information Technology to constitute a Committee for framing guidelines for curbing fake news. She contended that the spread of fake news is leading to various incidents of mob lynching, communal riots and breakdown of law and order.

In April 2019, the Court, refusing to entertain the writ petition, had dismissed it in limine. Advocate Anuja, thereafter, filed a review petition against the order of dismissal.

We do not find any ground, whatsoever, to entertain the Review Petition, said the three judge bench comprising of CJI SA Bobde, Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Sanjiv Khanna in an order passed last month.

Click here to Read/Download Order

Read Order