The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi Legislative Assembly’s Committee on Peace and Harmony to not hold hearings deliberating Facebook’s alleged role in the Delhi riots until further orders, Bar and Bench and LiveLaw reported. It had ruled so in response to a petition filed by Facebook India head Ajit Mohan, who had been summoned by the committee for a hearing scheduled on Wednesday (September 23). It is learnt that Mohan, in his petition, had argued that the committee’s summons to him are an overreach by the state government as public order in Delhi is the prerogative of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Thus, Mohan and Facebook have asked the Supreme Court to quash the summons. They have also argued that the summons are in violation of Mohan's fundamental rights to free speech and privacy. Mohan and Facebook's petition — filed on September 22 — was heard by a three-judge bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Aniruddha Bose and Krishna Murari. After hearing from the counsels of the committee, Facebook and Mohan, the Court reportedly issued notice in the matter, and directed the committee to not hold a meeting on the matter until further orders. The matter will be heard next on October 15. What is this about? The Delhi's Peace and Harmony Committee has held two hearings to explore the possible role of Facebook in inciting violence during the northeast Delhi riots that transpired in February this year. The committee was formed in the aftermath of the riots,…
