Technoglitch
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Seven months after stating that a blanket ban on porn sites was not possible, the Supreme Court on Friday took a big U-turn. It asked the Centre to find out "ways and means" to block "blue films" on the Internet, saying obscenity which was a crime under the Indian law "cannot be allowed to be perpetuated".
Significantly, the court is also exploring the possibility of banning watching of pornographic material in any form at public places and also sought the view of the Centre if it can be made a crime.
Despite stiff objection from the Centre which said it only favoured banning child pornography sites and not "going beyond" considering a citizen's right to privacy and also because it did not want to be seen "moral policing", the court directed the Centre to "develop a mechanism" for blocking all porn sites with the help of IT experts and service providers.
Videos
A bench headed by justice Dipak Misra was hearing a PIL filed by Indore-based lawyer Kamlesh Vaswani, demanding complete ban on porn websites on the ground that crime against women and children is "majorly influenced" by such videos.
"Obscenity is recognised by the law. Pornography can be obscene. Obscenity has been linked to misogynism, perversion, sadism, and voyeurism. These are acts depicted in pornography which have a direct nexus with obscenity as crime under Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code. Somebody doing it for gain cannot be entertained…other countries have not accepted defeat on this account. Look at UK," observed the bench.
Significantly, the judges also said 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
Find ways to block porn sites, Supreme Court tells government : Mail Today, News - India Today
Significantly, the court is also exploring the possibility of banning watching of pornographic material in any form at public places and also sought the view of the Centre if it can be made a crime.
Despite stiff objection from the Centre which said it only favoured banning child pornography sites and not "going beyond" considering a citizen's right to privacy and also because it did not want to be seen "moral policing", the court directed the Centre to "develop a mechanism" for blocking all porn sites with the help of IT experts and service providers.
Videos
A bench headed by justice Dipak Misra was hearing a PIL filed by Indore-based lawyer Kamlesh Vaswani, demanding complete ban on porn websites on the ground that crime against women and children is "majorly influenced" by such videos.
"Obscenity is recognised by the law. Pornography can be obscene. Obscenity has been linked to misogynism, perversion, sadism, and voyeurism. These are acts depicted in pornography which have a direct nexus with obscenity as crime under Section 292 of the Indian Penal Code. Somebody doing it for gain cannot be entertained…other countries have not accepted defeat on this account. Look at UK," observed the bench.
Significantly, the judges also said 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
Find ways to block porn sites, Supreme Court tells government : Mail Today, News - India Today
