HC refuses to stay summons against Google, FB

The Delhi high court on Thursday refused to stay the summons against social networking sites Google and Facebook issued by a trial court over a complaints relating to carrying objectionable content.

The Delhi high court on Thursday refused to stay the summons against social networking sites Google and Facebook issued by a trial court over a complaints relating to carrying objectionable content.

However justice Suresh Kait gave relief to senior executives of the two websites exempting them from being present in the trial court on March 13.

They have been allowed to appear through a lawyer. The court deferred the hearing of the petition in which they challenged the summons to May 3.

Public prosecutor Navin Sharma told HC that websites like Facebook and Yahoo had been given sufficient warnings and opportunities by the information technology ministry to remove them before steps were taken for their prosecution.

The Centre on January 13 allowed the prosecution of 20 social networking sites, saying the content was instigating enmity between different groups. Taking note of the report, judge Sudesh Kumar ordered the accused to appear in person on the next hearing.