Bombay HC Strikes Down Centre's IT Act Amendment, Calls Fact Check Unit 'Unconstitutional'

Bombay HC Strikes Down IT Fact Check Unit: The Bombay High Court gave a big blow to the central government on Friday by rejecting their plea to set up a fact check unit after stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra moved to the court in objection to this move.

Pronouncing the order, Justice AS Chandurkar said that the Information Technology Amendment Rules, 2023, allowing the central government to establish fact-check units (FCUs) that would identify fake news online were against Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution.

Bombay HC strikes down amended IT Rules; terms them unconstitutional https://t.co/4bFDsvTQCi pic.twitter.com/CgjgvLkhXJ

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Justice Chandurkar said that the amendments violate Articles 14 and 19 of the Indian Constitution, and he struck down the proposed IT amendments.

After a split verdict was delivered in January on the matter by a bench of Bombay High Court the case was then passed to a third judge.

In March, the Supreme Court put on hold the Centre's notification announcing the formal launch of its fact-check unit (FCU). The Court ruled that the Centre could not move forward until the Bombay High Court decides on the constitutional legality of the issue.

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