Steps need to be taken to stop sex determination contents on internet: SC

The Supreme Court on 3 December 2014 asked the Union government to take efforts to stop sex determination contents on internet.  

The bench comprising of Justice Dipak Misra and justice U U Lalit asked the Union government that an effort has to be taken to ensure that websites like Google India, Yahoo India and Microsoft Corporation (I) Pvt Ltd do not show contents in violation of the Indian law prohibiting sex determination of a foetus. The determination of sex of foetus is prohibited under the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1995.

The court also directed the websites that they do not violate the Indian law and they merely provide a corridor and they do not have any control.

The court also expressed unhappiness over a 2010 affidavit of Group Coordinator of Cyber Laws Formulation and Enforcement Division of Department of IT Centre.

The apex court also highlighted the Union government’s inability to filter or block such information like advertisement of sex-determination kits, tools and clinics on Interest of above mentioned websites.

However, the Union government in its reply expressed its inability to block such content citing technological limitations.  It also said that information published on the websites is generally aimed at wider, worldwide dissemination and caters to the needs of many countries, which may not be for Indian citizens and these sites have servers outside India.

The Court took intervention on the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by NGO Voluntary Health Association of Punjab seeking intervention of Supreme Court in view of decreasing number of girl child in India.