Facebook post row: Nation outraged over arrest of girls, SC to examine IT Act

NEW DELHI: Noting that the country was "outraged" over the arrest of two girls in Maharashtra over Facebook comments, the Supreme Court today decided to examine the Information Technology Act to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

Hearing a PIL seeking amendments to the IT Act, a bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Justice J Chelameswar expressed surprise over how two girls were arrested in Palghar in Thane district after sunset.

One girl had criticised in a Facebook post the November 18 shutdown for Thackeray's funeral and the other had "liked" it.

While agreeing to hear the case, the bench said it was considering taking suo motu cognisance of recent incidents of arrest of people and wondered why nobody had so far challenged the particular provision of the IT Act.

"The way the little children were arrested, it outraged the sentiments of the people of the country. The way these things had been taking place needs consideration," the bench observed while asking Attorney General G E Vahanvati to assist it when it will take up the issue for hearing tomorrow.

The Bench also noted that the charge of disruption to communal harmony was there but later it was removed.