We have heard the learned Amicus, the learned ASG, Ms. Aparna Bhat - learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the other parties.
On going through the Status Report handed over in Court today by the learned ASG, we find that a substantial amount of work still remains to be
done. It has been stated that the launch of Beta Version of Online Cyber Crime reporting portal has been given up and now the portal in its final form
will be launched on or before 15th July, 2018. It is further stated that at present, the security audit is going on.
With regard to Portal Integration with CCTNS, it is stated that this is likely to take about two months’ time and the Ministry of Home Affairs is
co-ordinating with the States and the Union Territories in this regard.
With regard to Institutional Mechanism at Central Level, it is stated that there is some dialogue between the States and the Ministry of Electronics and
Information Technology and other Ministries in this regard.
It is further stated that all these three activities will be completed on or before 15th July, 2018. In our opinion, more than sufficient time has been taken
by the Ministry of Home Affairs to complete these tasks and to complete other tasks. However, time is granted to the Ministry of Home Affairs to
complete the tasks on or before 30th June, 2018.
In our order dated 16.04.2018, we had required the parties before us i.e. Yahoo, Facebook Ireland, Facebook India, Google India, Google Inc.,
Microsoft and Whats App to let us know the status of progress made pursuant to the recommendations accepted by these entities as mentioned in the
Report of the Committee. None of these entities has filed anything to show us the progress nor any of these entities is ready with any response
pursuant to our aforesaid order.
We direct these entities to file an affidavit on or before 15th June, 2018 giving us the status of the progress made.
The Registry will accept the affidavit filed by these entities along with costs of Rs.1 lac each which will be kept in a fixed deposit for a short term
period immediately upon receipt.
List the matter on 2nd July, 2018 at 2.00 pm. It is made clear that the proceedings need not be in camera.
