Plea Field Against Twitter in Supreme Court Seeks CBI/NIA Investigation Into Hate Messages On It

(Judicial Quest News Network)

A plea has been moved in Supreme Court against Twitter over it’s communal hate posts that went viral on Twitter last year, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SLP has been preferred by Advocate Khaja Aijaz Uddin against the order of the Telangana high court, directing the central government to consider his representation.

It is submitted that many users on the “Twitter” have projected the issue of Nizamuddin Congregation, Delhi and the news on the twitter is trending like #lslamiccoronavirus jihad, #Coronajihaad, Tablighi jamaat, #Nizamuddinidiots, and in many ways which is directly pointing out the finger to one particular community which is totally against or contrary to the Guidelines issued by the WHO, Dated 18.03.2020 and so also more particularly against the Secular fabric of this Country as mandated under Indian Constitution and the trend which is spread on the Twitter Social Service may result in disturbance of the communal harmony of this great Country and I request You to immediately direct the Twitter Social Networking Service to stop the Publishing or availability of the tweets on the twitter which is open to all and take action against the users on the twitter who are expressing the hatred in the name of religion by criticising or as an interim measure block all the users forthwith , failing which the continuity of the same may results legal action against the Twitter and wish to inform You Nos. 1 to 5 the control and the laws which are prevailing for the functioning of any mechanism or to say authority vests with You Nos. 1 to 5 to  uphold the “Rule of Law”.

The petitioner said that the High Court was unjustified in not directing the Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to register criminal complaint against the Respondent no. 5 as well as its users who became an integral accessory in promoting hatred against a particular religion which is a criminal offence under Chapter XV of the Indian Penal Code and Information Technology Act, 2000.

It is submitted that on perusal of the Guidelines issued by WHO Dated 18.03.2020, referring Para nos. 1 & 2 clearly stipulates that “when referring to people with Covid-19, do not attach the disease to any

particular ethnicity or nationality ……. ” In view of the same none through any means have got any right to criticise the people who are affected by Covid-19 in the name of religion or nationality or sect or by

any means which for no fault of them the disease has affected. On perusal of the twitter social site, as You all are aware that in religious congregation at Delhi, i.e., was known as Ta blighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin, Delhi undertook therein where people/ foreigners from across the world have come to attend on legal status in the second week of March·2020. During that time or after the end of the congregation, Coronavirus spread widely resulting in lockdown declared by India and people who have

It is pertinent to mention here that the development has come in such a time when the company and the Government has started a legal battle against each other over the new IT rules for regulation of user content.

Direct the appropriate agency, i.e. CBI or NIA, to conduct investigation against Respondent No. 5 and its users who were involved in inflammatory posts; Direct the Respondent Nos. 1 and 2 to frame

guidelines as envisaged under the provisions of IT Act, 2000, pertaining to hate messages against any Religious Community including Islamophobic posts on various Social Media platforms; and/or pass such other orders/directions as this Hon’ble court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.

It is further urged the top court direct all online social media networks or sites operated in territorial jurisdiction of India and restrain all online social media networks operating in India not to carry any Islamophobic Posts or messages hurting or insulting the feelings of the particularly community.