SC stays Centre's notification to set up fact-check unit, says it is matter of freedom of speech and expression

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has stayed the central notification setting up a fact-check unit to regulate news about the central government on social media and online. A notification by the ministry of electronics and IT designating the Press Information Bureau (PIB) as the fact-checking unit was issued on March 20. The pleas challenging the notification were filed in the Supreme Court by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra and the Editors Guild of India.

Petitions against the provision under the amended IT Rules, 2023 allowing fact-checking of online news against the Centre, are pending before the Mumbai High Court. The Bombay High Court refused to issue an interim stay order on these petitions. As there was no stay, the Centre went ahead issuing a notification to constitute a unit for fact-checking.

However, the bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud pointed out that the issues raised in the petition pending before the Bombay High Court are constitutionally serious issues as it is also a matter related to freedom of speech and expression. Therefore, the Supreme Court has stated that the central notification will be stayed till the final judgment of the Bombay High Court.