In a relief for Facebook, the Apex Court on Thursday said that appreciating evidence in criminal cases pertaining to Delhi riots was not within the jurisdiction of the Delhi Assembly Committee headed by Raghav Chadha, who it said shouldn't have made prima facie statement about prosecution of the social media giant in the riots case.
The Supreme Court was delivering its verdict on a plea filed by Facebook India vice president & MD Ajit Mohan & others challenging the summons issued by Delhi Assembly's Peace & Harmony committee for failing to appear before it as witness in connection with the north-east Delhi riots matter.
The Supreme Court said that "Social media platforms have power & potential to influence people across borders. Debates & posts on these platforms -- like Facebook -- have potential to polarise the society as many members of society do not have the wherewithal to verify veracity of contents".
"Since Delhi Assembly itself has no jurisdiction over law & order situation & police, the peace & harmony committee would have no business to comment on the Delhi riots, especially the criminal cases & nature of evidence
Earlier in Dec 2020, the peace & harmony committee had moved the top court seeking to intervene in the plea filed by Mohan & others.
On Oct 15 2020, the Centre had told the Supreme Court that proceedings of the Peace & Harmony committee is “without jurisdiction” as the issue pertained to law & order.
The Supreme Court had said that its Sept 23 order asking the assembly's panel not to take any coercive action against Mohan, would continue till further orders.
The plea filed by Mohan, Facebook India Online Services Pvt Ltd & Facebook Inc has contended that the committee lacks power to summon or hold petitioners in breach of its privileges for failing to appear & it was exceeding its constitutional limits.
They have challenged the Sept 10 & 18 last year notices issued by the committee that sought Mohan's presence before the panel which is probing the Delhi riots in February & Facebook's role in spread of alleged hate speeches.
The Delhi Assembly had said that no coercive action has been taken against Mohan & he was only summoned by its committee to appear as witness in connection with north-east Delhi riots.
In an affidavit filed in the top court, the Delhi Assembly had said that Mohan has not been issued any summons for breach of privilege.
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Social media is bold.
Social media is young.
Social media raises questions.
Social media is not satisfied with an answer.
Social media looks at the big picture.
Social media is interested in every detail.
social media is curious.
Social media is free.
Social media is irreplaceable.
But never irrelevant.
Social media is you.
(With input from news agency language)
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