Delhi HC asks Centre to respond if X Corp ought to be part of Sahyog portal
Delhi High Court
has asked the Centre to respond to its query on whether social media platform
X Corp
. ought to be unexceptionally part of the
Sahyog portal
in cases involving
human trafficking
,
child trafficking
and national security-related issues.
The court has asked the Centre to file its reply by September 10, addressing specifically this issue as well as a plea moved by X Corp., formerly known as Twitter, seeking discharge from the proceedings of a case and placing its opposition to come on board the Sahyog portal, which is managed by the home ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (IC4).
"Let the Union of India file its reply to the present application, addressing the specific issue i.e. as to whether in cases involving human trafficking, child trafficking and serious matters such as drug trafficking and national security-related issues are concerned, the applicant X Corp. ought to be unexceptionally part of the SAHYOG portal. Let the reply be filed by September 10, 2025," a bench of Justices Prathiba M Singh and Amit Sharma has said.
The high court, in its August 12 order, took note of the challenge by X Corp. to the entire concept of the Sahyog portal and that its coming on board the portal is pending before the Karnataka High Court. However, the judgment is stated to be reserved.
Sahyog, the government says, was developed to automate the process of sending notices to intermediaries by the appropriate government or its agency under the IT Act to facilitate the removal or disabling of access to any information, data or communication link being used to commit an unlawful act.
The portal aims to bring together all authorised agencies and intermediaries on one platform to ensure immediate action against unlawful online information.
The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by a woman seeking directions to authorities to produce her 19-year-old son who has been missing since January 10, 2024.
While dealing with several habeas corpus petitions, the court noticed that there was a "lag" between the seeking of information by police and the receipt of the same from various social media platforms.
The court made it clear that the application of X Corp. arises in a habeas corpus petition, where there is a missing child, and the cooperation to be tendered by intermediaries and their participation in the SAHYOG portal is being considered from that perspective.
X Corp. has sought its discharge from the present proceedings, citing its cooperation, and said its petition against the Sahyog portal is pending in the Karnataka High Court, which has reserved the judgment.
The court observed that there was no impediment in hearing X Corp. as the Karnataka High Court has not passed any such order.
The Centre's counsel had said while X Corp. moved the Karnataka High Court, 64 intermediaries had come aboard the Sahyog portal and the home ministry's IC4 had sent requests to others to follow suit.
The counsel had urged the court to direct the remaining intermediaries to join the portal expeditiously.
In a status report filed in the matter, the Centre had also said that more than 1,100 entities, including internet service providers, Facebook, WhatsApp and Microsoft, have joined the "API integrated system" for instantaneously sharing data.
It had added that the system was at the testing and production stage and all states and Union territories had appointed nodal officers for the Sahyog portal.
The report had said 33 "Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers" had also joined the portal.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
36 minutes ago
- Business Standard
PM's Diwali Dhamaka may come as GST cuts on small cars, insurance premiums
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Diwali 'dhamaka' for consumers may come in the form of cuts in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on small cars and insurance premiums. According to a report by Reuters, citing government sources, Centre has proposed lowering GST on small petrol and diesel cars to 18 per cent from 28 per cent, and reducing GST on health and life insurance premiums to 5 per cent from the current 18 per cent, or even exempting them entirely. If cleared, the relief package could be unveiled before Diwali in October, India's busiest retail season, and just weeks ahead of the Bihar Assembly election. PM Modi, in his Independence Day address, promised 'next generation' GST reforms to ease the burden on consumers and micro, small and medium enterprises. Larger GST overhaul in the works PM Modi's rationalisation agenda is built on three pillars, the Reuters report said. This includes structural reforms, rate simplification, and ease of living. It seeks to correct inverted duty structures, reduce classification disputes, and eventually move towards a simplified two-slab structure with standard and merit rates while phasing out the 12 per cent slab. Moreover, as the compensation cess on luxury and sin goods is set to end, the Centre sees an opportunity to use that room to cut GST on everyday and aspirational products without hurting revenues. Compensation cess expiry and GST review Compensation cess refers to the extra levy introduced in 2017 on luxury and sin goods such as coal, tobacco, aerated drinks, and large cars. It was designed to compensate states for revenue losses after GST replaced earlier state taxes like VAT and octroi. Originally meant to expire in 2022, the cess was extended until March 2026 to help cover revenue shortfalls caused by the pandemic. Once it lapses, the Centre will have greater flexibility to rationalise GST rates without relying on this additional revenue stream. Small cars to see turnaround Small cars, defined as those under four metres with petrol engines up to 1,200cc and diesel engines up to 1,500cc, have steadily lost ground to SUVs, shrinking from nearly half the passenger vehicle market pre-pandemic to about one-third of the 4.3 million units sold in FY24. A lower tax rate could help revive demand in this category, which remains significant for manufacturers such as Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai Motor India, and Tata Motors. Big cars may get costlier The government is also considering a 40 per cent special GST slab for larger vehicles, which currently attract 28 per cent GST plus a compensation cess of up to 22 per cent, taking the effective burden close to 50 per cent. Officials are weighing whether to impose supplementary levies to keep the final incidence within the existing 43-50 per cent band. Insurance relief on the cards Households may see additional relief through cheaper health and life insurance. Cutting GST to 5 per cent from 18 per cent or zero would help lower premiums and expand coverage in a country. GST Council to meet in September The matter has been referred to the Group of Ministers set up by the GST Council, which is expected to take place on September 9, according to a report by CNBC-TV18. If approved, the package would mark the most significant GST restructuring since 2017.
The Hindu
36 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Telangana Congress MPs raise urea shortage issue in Parliament
Telangana Congress MPs raised serious concerns in Parliament over the acute shortage of urea in the State, urging immediate intervention from the Centre. Bhongir MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy submitted an adjournment motion to the Lok Sabha Secretary-General, highlighting the crisis. He pointed out that the Centre had allocated 9.80 lakh metric tonnes of urea for Telangana during the current Kharif season. By August 13, the State was supposed to have received 6.60 lakh metric tonnes, but only 4.50 lakh metric tonnes have been supplied so far. This shortfall of 2.10 lakh metric tonnes has led to a severe shortage, creating panic among farmers, he stated in the adjournment motion. Mr. Reddy expressed concern that due to the early onset of the southwest monsoon on May 26, farmers had sown their crops earlier than usual. But the delay in urea supply has now started to affect crop growth adversely and could cause widespread damage if not addressed immediately. The Congress MP cautioned that the shortage has already resulted in confusion and unrest among farmers. He urged the Speaker to allow a discussion on the matter in the House, stressing that the timely supply of urea is critical to safeguard Telangana's agricultural output this season. Meanwhile, protests continued in several places by farmers seeking an adequate supply of Urea. The Congress leaders have been attacking the BJP leadership for their failure to ensure adequate supply of Urea to the State, while the Union Ministers from Telangana, G. Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay Kumar, apart from BJP Telangana president N Ramchander Rao, have been maintaing that supplies were more than sought by the State government.
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- New Indian Express
Ruling NC launches signature campaign for statehood restoration from J&K's Mendhar
SRINAGAR: The ruling National Conference (NC) launched its much-anticipated signature campaign demanding the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, beginning from the border area of Mendhar in Poonch district on Sunday. Senior NC leader and minister Javed Ahmed Rana kicked off the campaign, calling it a 'people-driven movement' aimed at reclaiming the democratic rights, constitutional identity, and dignity lost following the revocation of J&K's special status on 5 August 2019. That decision by the Centre also saw the bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two Union Territories, Jammu and Kashmir (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without one). 'Mendhar and Poonch have witnessed immense suffering, especially after Operation Sindoor on May 7. This campaign is rooted in the voices of the common people who have, for too long, awaited the restoration of our statehood. It is about reclaiming what is rightfully ours,' Rana said while launching the drive. He asserted that statehood was not a privilege but a constitutional right, representing the identity, voice, and future of the people. Rana urged youth, civil society members, intellectuals, and citizens across party lines to participate, stressing that the issue transcends politics.
