SC grants Centre time to frame mechanism to ban child porn websites
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted further time to the Centre to come out with a suitable mechanism to block child pornography websites to put to an end to the menace.
During the last hearing on February 26, the court had voiced its concern over the spread of child pornography like cancer in the society and observed that it cannot be allowed in the guise of free speech and liberty.
A bench of Justices Dipak Misra and Shiva Kirti Singh in its order had said “Children cannot be made prey to this kind of painful situation and the nation cannot afford to carry on any experiment with its children in the name of liberty or for that matter freedom of speech. You have to be more scientific. If it is not permissible by the government of India, it is the bligation of the government to ban it. Mechanism has to be developed. You have experts. There are ways and means. How it can be done you have to see. The right to free speech, thought and expression is not “absolute” and does not extend to viewing or compelling to watch porn in a public place.”
During the resumed hearing on Monday the Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand informed the court that some meetings had taken place in the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare and at least three weeks are required to file a comprehensive affidavit.
Counsel Vijay Panjwani appearing for petitioner Vasavani submitted that the Centre blocked several pornography websites in July 31, 2015 and gave directions to Internet service providers but this order was withdrawn due to pressure from media and other groups. He wanted the ban order to be restored. The Bench while granting time asked the ASG to consider this aspect also in the affidavit and posted the matter for further hearing on April 25.
The bench also permitted the Supreme Court Women’s Lawyers Association through senior counsel Mahalakshmi Pavani to intervene in the case and filed its response. The association has also pleaded for ban on pornography material pleading that a number of school bus drivers/cleaners and conductors across the country have become pornography addict and are subjecting school children to sexual abuse.
