These connections will now be submitted to the interested advocates-on-record/parties-in-registered person’s email addresses and mobile numbers.
The Supreme Court of India can no longer exchange video conference ties for court hearings through WhatsApp groups.
Instead, those connections would be submitted to the concerned advocates-on-record/party-in-registered person’s email addresses and mobile numbers.
According to a circular released on Saturday by the Court, this measure was taken in the light of the newly notified Rules on Information Technology (Guidelines for intermediaries and the Digital Media Ethics Code), 2021 (IT Rules, 2021).
“For the details of the Advocates-on-Record /Party-in Persons, it is informed that the establishment of WhatsApp groups for the exchange of VC links for the hearing of their issues is limited / prohibited due to new guidelines or regulations released by the Government of India on Social Media Applications and OTT Platforms,” the circular that will take effect from 1 March 2021 says.
On February 25, the IT Rules of 2021 were released to govern the activities of online media portals and publishers, OTT websites, and social media intermediaries.
The guidelines set down in compliance with the powers granted by Section 79(2)(c) and Section 69A (2) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 allow for the classification of films and other entertainment programmes, including web shows, the incorporation of multimedia news channels within the framework of legislation covering print and electronic media, and aim to rein in social media intermediaries.
