Update: MP P. Rajeeve has moved a motion on repealing Section 66A, and the debate is expected to take place at 2:30 pm today. We'll update, unless Parliament gets disrupted and no work gets done. Earlier: Notes from a debate during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha on section 66A, of which we caught some parts. Some parts of the notes below are paraphrased: Rajeev Chandrasekhar: Sibal would be in a minority if he considers section 66A to be in line with the constitution of India. Phrases like 'Grossly harmful' etc are being misused - it's not just the case the police is misusing it, but it is the act itself which is an issue. Sibal: There were issues and concerns of Phishing, morphing, an expert committee was set up, and then the reform of the act was taken forward. When the matter went to the standing committee, the government's position was that it should be a non cognizable offence, with 2 years. The standing committee said the government was being soft and it should be a cognizable offence. The member (Chandrasekhar) was a member of that committee. There are statutes all over the world - the UK Communications Act 2003 states that a personal is liable if a personal sends a message which is grossly offensive, of a menacing character or indecent. (Sibal reads a similar provision from the US act, saying it's much wider, an Australian court as well). Our legislation is in line with other legislation.…
