1 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION TRANSFER PETITION(CIVIL) Nos.997-1000/2021 UNION OF INDIA & ANOTHER ETC. PETITIONER(S) VERSUS FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM & ORS. ETC. RESPONDENT(S) WITH TRANSFER PETITION(CIVIL) Nos.1147-1152/2021 TRANSFER PETITION(CIVIL) Nos.1248-1252/2021 O R D E R Heard learned counsel for the respective parties. 2. These cases are concerned with the challenge to the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. It is submitted by Mr. Rajat Nair, learned counsel that writ petitions have been filed in various High Courts including the High Court of Delhi, the High Court of Bombay, the High Court of Orissa, the High Court of Karnataka, the High Court of Madras, the High Court of Calcutta and the High Court of Kerala. In order to avoid contradictory judgments, the Union Government has filed the Transfer Petition to consolidate all the matters in one court for analogus consideration. 3. Since a good number of these writ petitions are pending consideration before the Delhi High Court, we deem it appropriate
2 to transfer the proceedings pending in various High Courts for analogus hearing, to the Delhi High Court. 4. Consequently the following cases are ordered to be transferred:- Sl. NO. Case No. Pending at 1 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 12604/2021 High Court of Orissa 2 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 18084/2021 High Court of Kerala 3 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 6491/2021 High Court of Karnataka 4 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 12515/2021 High Court of Madras 5 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 13055/2021 High Court of Madras 6 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 153/2021 High Court of Calcutta 7 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 14172/2021 High Court of Bombay 8 PIL No . 14204/2021 High Court of Bombay 9 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 13675/2021 High Court of Kerala 10 Writ Petition (Civil) No. 6272/2021 High Court of Kerala 5. With this order, the above cases stand transferred to the Delhi High Court. The concerned paper books/records in the different High Courts should now be transferred to the Delhi High Court within four weeks from today. Additionally, all such similar cases pending in various High Courts should also be transferred on appropriate application, by either of the parties. 6. The related SLPs challenging the interim order passed by the High Court stands disposed of by permitting the Union of India to make necessary prayers before the Delhi High Court. W.P.(C) No. 760/2021 Mr. Vedant Prabhakar, learned counsel submits that since this is a writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petitioner would withdraw the same in view of the order passed
3 today in the Transfer Petition. Then a writ petition before the Delhi High Court will be filed. Noting the above submission, the Writ Petitions stands dismissed as withdrawn. 6. The Transfer Petitions are allowed in the aforesaid terms. 7. Pending application(s), if any, shall stand closed. .......................J. [ HRISHIKESH ROY ] ........................J. [ PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA ] NEW DELHI; MARCH 22, 2024
4 ITEM NO.56 COURT NO.7 SECTION IX S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 14506- 14507/2021 (Arising out of impugned judgment and order dated 14-08-2021 in WPL No.14172/2021 14-08-2021 in PILL No. 14204/2021 passed by the High Court Of Judicature At Bombay) UNION OF INDIA & ANR. Petitioner(s) VERSUS AGIJ PROMOTION OF NINETEENONEA MEDIA PVT. LTD. & ANR. ETC. Respondent(s) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.117645/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT ) WITH T.P.(C) No. 997-1000/2021 (XIV) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.63369/2021-EX-PARTE STAY and IA No.63370/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T,) T.P.(C) No. 1147-1152/2021 (XI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.77779/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) W.P.(C) No. 760/2021 (PIL-W) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.79630/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) SLP(C) No. 11163/2021 (XI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.85838/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.85839/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT) T.P.(C) No. 1248-1252/2021 (XVI) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.87279/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) SLP(C) No. 11566/2021 (XI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.89043/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.89045/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) SLP(C) No. 8670/2022 (XII) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.70520/2022-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.70521/2022-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) Date : 22-03-2024 These petitions were called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HRISHIKESH ROY HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRASHANT KUMAR MISHRA For Petitioner(s) Mr. Arvind P Datar, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nitya Ramakrishnan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Mrigank Prabhakar, AOR Ms. Sakshi Banga, Adv. Ms. Amisha Devi, Adv.
5 Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR Mr. Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General Mr. K.m Nataraj, A.S.G. Mr. Rajat Nair, Adv. Mr. Kanu Agrawal, Adv. Mr. Divyansh H Rathi, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma B, Adv. For Respondent(s) Mr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sr. Adv. Mr. C.U. Singh, Sr. Adv. Ms. Astha Sharma, AOR Ms. Mantika Haryani, Adv. Mr. Bhanu Mishra, Adv. Ms. Vrinda Bhandari, Adv. Ms. Rashmi Nandakumar, AOR Mr. Gurmeet Singh Makker, AOR Mr. Amit Sibal, Sr. Adv. Mr. Ruby Singh Ahuja, Adv. Mr. Siddharth Chopra, Adv. Mr. Nitin Sharma, Adv. Ms. Swikriti Singhania, Adv. Ms. Kritika Sachdeva, Adv. Ms. Simranjeet, Adv. Mr. Vasu Singh, Adv. Mr. Srishti Kumar, Adv. ‘ Mr. Vivek Ayyagari, Adv. M/S. Karanjawala & Co., AOR Ms. Nitya Ramakrishnan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Prasanna S., AOR Mr. M. Shoeb Alam, Sr. Adv. Mr. Arjun Adrain D’Souza, Adv. = Ms. Fauzia Shakil, AOR Mr. Krishan Kumar, AOR Mrs. Neetu Sharma, Adv. Mr. Seemant K. Garg, Adv. Mr. Nitin Pal, Adv. Ms. Vrinda Bhandari, AOR Mr. Abhinav Sekhri, Adv. Ms. Radhika Roy, Adv. Ms. Gayatri Malhotra, Adv. Ms. Anandita Rana, Adv. Ms. Pragya Barsaiyan, Adv. Mr. Madhav Aggarwal, Adv.
6 Mr. Faisal Sherwani , AOR Ms. Megha Karnwal, AOR Mr. Nachiket Joshi, Adv. Mr. Shivek Trehan, Adv. Ms. Rishika Goyal, Adv. Ms. Riya Nair, Adv. Mr. Arvind Datar, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nisha Bhambhani, Adv. Mr. Rajat Arora, AOR Mr. Rahul Unnikrishnan, Adv. Ms. Mariya Shahab, Adv. Mr. Nibin Louis, Adv. Mr. Chitranshul A. Sinha, AOR UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R The related SLPs challenging the interim order, passed by the High Court(s), stands disposed of with liberty to the Union of India to make necessary prayer before Delhi High Court. The Transfer Petitions are disposed of in terms of the signed order, which is placed on the File. Pending application(s), if any, stand closed. W.P.(C) No. 760/2021 Mr. Vedant Prabhakar, learned counsel submits that since this is a writ petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution, the petitioner would withdraw the same in view of the order passed today and would file writ petition before the Delhi High Court. Noting the above submission the Writ Petitions stands dismissed, as withdrawn. Pending application(s), if any, stand closed. (DEEPAK JOSHI) (KAMLESH RAWAT) COURT MASTER (SH) ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
1 ITEM NO.13 COURT NO.3 SECTION IX S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 14506-14507/2021 (Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 14-08-2021 in WPL No. 14172/2021 14-08-2021 in PILL No. 14204/2021 passed by the High Court Of Judicature At Bombay) UNION OF INDIA & ANR. Petitioner(s) VERSUS AGIJ PROMOTION OF NINETEENONEA MEDIA PVT. LTD. & ANR.Respondent(s) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.117645/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT ) WITH W.P.(C) No. 760/2021 (PIL-W) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.79630/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) T.P.(C) No. 997-1000/2021 (XVI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.63369/2021-EX-PARTE STAY and IA No.63370/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T,) T.P.(C) No. 1147-1152/2021 (XVI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.77779/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) SLP(C) No. 11163/2021 (XI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.85838/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.85839/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT) T.P.(C) No. 1248-1252/2021 (XVI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.87279/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) SLP(C) No. 11566/2021 (XI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.89043/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.89045/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) SLP(C) No. 8670/2022 (XII) FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.70520/2022-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.70521/2022-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) Date : 27-07-2022 These petitions were called on for hearing today. CORAM :
2 HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.M. KHANWILKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ABHAY S. OKA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.B. PARDIWALA For Petitioner(s) Mr. Tushar Mehta, SG (NP) Mr. K. M. Nataraj, ASG Mr. Kanu Agrawala, Adv. Mr. Divyansh H. Rathi, Adv. Mr. Rajat Nair, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma, Adv. Mr. Anuj Srinivas, Adv. Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR Mr. G. S. Makker, AOR Mr. Arvind Datar, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nitya Ramakrishnan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Mrigank Prabhakar, AOR For Respondent(s) Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sr. Adv. Mr. C. U. Singh, Sr. Adv. Ms. Astha Sharma, AOR Mr. Paras Nath Singh, Adv. Ms. Mantika Haryani, Adv. Mr. Ankit Jaglan, Adv. Mr. Maninder Singh, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nisha Bhandhani, Adv. Mr. Rahul Bhatia, AOR Ms. Nitya Ramakrishnan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Prasanna S., AOR Ms. Swati Arya, Adv. Mr. Yuvraj Singh Rathore, Adv. Mr. Anandita Mishra, Adv. Ms. Rashmi Nandakumar, AOR Ms. Anindita Mishra, Adv. Ms. Liz Mathew, AOR Ms. Ruby Singh Ahuja, Adv. Mr. Siddharth Chopra, Adv. Ms. Kritika Sachdeva, Adv. Ms. Aakriti Vohra, Adv. Mr. Nitin Sharma, Adv. Mr. Aakanksha Munjal, Adv. Ms. S. Singhania, Adv. Mr. Vivek Ayyagari, Adv. Ms. Abhiti Vachher, Adv. Mr. Kuber Mahajan, Adv. M/S. Karanjawala & Co., AOR
3 Mr. Krishan Kumar, AOR Mr. Nitin Pal, Adv. Ms. Swati Potukuchi, Adv. Mr. Shoeb Alam, Adv. Ms. Mythili Srinivasamurthy, Adv. Mr. Arjun Adrian D’Souza, Adv. Mr. Faisal Sherwani , AOR Mr. Nachiketa Joshi, Adv. Ms. Megha Karnwal, AOR Mr. Shivek Trehan, Adv. Mr. Shagun Chopra, Adv. Mr. Chitranshul A. Sinha, AOR UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R In view of letter circulated by Mr. Amrish Kumar, learned counsel for the petitioner(s), seeking adjournment on the ground of personal difficulty of the learned Solicitor General, hearing of these matters is deferred till 17.08.2022. (NEETU KHAJURIA) ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS (VIDYA NEGI) ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
1 ITEM NO.9 COURT NO.3 SECTION PIL-W S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 760/2021 AMOL PALEKAR Petitioner(s) VERSUS UNION OF INDIA & ANR. Respondent(s) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.79630/2021-EX-PARTE STAY ) WITH T.P.(C) No. 997-1000/2021 (XVI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.63369/2021-EX-PARTE STAY and IA No.63370/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T,) T.P.(C) No. 1147-1152/2021 (XVI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.77779/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) T.P.(C) No. 1248-1252/2021 (XVI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and IA No.87279/2021-EX-PARTE STAY) SLP(C) No. 14506-14507/2021 (IX) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.117645/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT) SLP(C) No. 11163/2021 (XI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.85838/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.85839/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING AFFIDAVIT) SLP(C) No. 11566/2021 (XI-A) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.89043/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.89045/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) SLP(C) No. 8670/2022 (XII) ([TO BE TAKEN UP ALONG WITH W.P.(C) No. 799/2020.]FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.70520/2022-EXEMPTION FROM FILING C/C OF THE IMPUGNED JUDGMENT and IA No.70521/2022-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T.) Date : 20-07-2022 This petition was called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.M. KHANWILKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ABHAY S. OKA HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE J.B. PARDIWALA For parties: Mr. Arvind Datar, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nitya Ramamkrishnan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Mrigank Prabhakar, AOR Mr. Tushar Mehta, Ld. SG Mr. K.M. Nataraj, Ld. ASG Mr. Rajat Nair, Adv.
2 Mr. Kanu Agrawal, Adv. Mr. Divyansh H. Rathi, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma, Adv. Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR Mr. Manninder Singh, Sr. Adv. Ms. Nisha B., Adv. Mr. Rahul Bhatia, AOR Mr. Rajshekhar Rao, Sr. Adv. Mr. Manish Sood, Adv. Mr. Apar Gupta, Adv. Ms. Vrinda Bhandari, Adv. Mr. Abhinav Sekhri, Adv. Ms. Rashmi Nandakumar, AOR Mr. Tanmay Singh, Adv. mr. Krishnesh Bapat, Adv. Ms. Anandita Mishra, Adv. Mr. Amala Dasarathi, Adv. Ms. Natasha Maheshwari, Adv. Mr. Shankar Narayanan, Adv. Mr. Arvind, Sr. Adv. Ms. Liz Mathew, AOR Ms. Vrinda Bhandari, Adv. Mr. Abhinav Sekhri, Adv. Mr. Tanmay Singh, Adv. Mr. Krishnesh Bapat, Adv. Ms. Natasha Maheshwari, Adv. Mr. Navneet R., Adv. Ms. Vasudha Jain, Adv. Mr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Sr. Adv. Mr. CV Singh, Sr. Adv. Ms. Astha Sharma, AOR Mr. Paras Nath Singh, Adv. Mr. Ankit Jaglan, Adv. Mr. K.V. Viswanathan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Siddharth Chopra, Adv. Ms. Swikriti Singhania, Adv. Ms. Kritika Sachdeva, Adv. Mr. Ashutosh P Shukla, Adv. Mr. Nitin Sharma, Adv. Mr. Vivek Ayyari, Adv. Ms. A. Vachher, Adv. Ms. Surabhi Pande, Adv. Mr. Sudarshana, Adv. Mr. Kuber Mahajan, Adv. M/S. Karanjawala & Co., AOR Ms. Nitya Ramakrishnan, Sr. Adv. Mr. Prasanna S., AOR
3 Mr. Raghav, Adv. Ms. Swati Arya, Adv. Mr. Yuvraj Singh Rathore, Adv. Mr. Abhay N., Adv. Mr. Krishan Kumar, AOR Mr. Nitin Pal, Adv. Mr. Kartik S., Adv. Ms. S. Dubey, Adv. Ms. Swati P., Adv. Mr. Nachiket Joshi, Adv. Mr. Shivek Trehan, Adv. Ms. Shagun Chopra, Adv. Ms. Megha Karnwal, AOR Mr. Aaditya Vijay Kumar, Adv. Chitranshul A. Sinha, AOR Ms. Akshita Katoch, Adv. Mr. Tushar Mehta, Ld. SG Mr. K.M. Nataraj, Ld. ASG Mr. Rajat Nair, Adv. Mr. Kanu Agrawal, Adv. Mr. Divyansh H. Rathi, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma, Adv. Mr. Anuj Srinivas Udupa, Adv. Mr. G.S. Makker, AOR Mr. Shoeb Alam., Adv. Mrs. Mishi Choudhary, Adv. Mr. Prasanth Sugathan, Adv. Mr. Arjun D'Souza, Adv. Ms. Fauzia Shakil, AOR Mr. N.B. Joshi, Adv. Mr. Paritosh Tomar, Adv. Mr. Tushar Mehta, Ld. SG Mr. K.M. Nataraj, Ld. ASG Mr. Rajat Nair, Adv. Mr. Kanu Agrawal, Adv. Ms. Sansriti Pathak, Adv. Ms. Swati Ghildiyal, Adv. Mr. Digvijay Dam, Adv. Mr. Anuj Srinivas Udupa, Adv. Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R The Registry is directed to list these matters on 27.07.2022 and to treat SLP(C) Nos. 14506-14507 of 2021 as a lead case in this
4 group of cases related to Challenge to information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021] (DEEPAK SINGH) (VIDYA NEGI) COURT MASTER (SH) ASSISTANT REGISTRAR
1 ITEM NO.7 Court 4 (Video Conferencing) SECTION XVI-A S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS Transfer Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 997-1000/2021 UNION OF INDIA & ANR. Petitioner(s) VERSUS FOUNDATION FOR INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM & ORS.ETC. Respondent(s) (FOR ADMISSION and I.R. and IA No.63369/2021-EX-PARTE STAY and IA No.63370/2021-EXEMPTION FROM FILING O.T. ) Date : 09-07-2021 These petitions were called on for hearing today. CORAM : HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A.M. KHANWILKAR HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJIV KHANNA For Petitioner(s) Mr. Tushar Mehta, SG Mr. K.M. Nataraj, ASG Mr. Rajat Nair, Adv. Mr. Kanu Agarwal, Adv. Mr. Divyansh H. Rathi, Adv. Mr. Amit Sharma B., Adv. Mr. Amrish Kumar, AOR For Respondent(s) Mr. Arvind Datar, Sr. Adv. Mr. Santhosh Mathew, Adv. Ms. Liz Mathew, AOR Ms. Vrinda Bhandari, Adv. Mr. Abhinav Sekhri, Adv. Ms. Sanjana Srikumar, Adv. Mr. Tanmay Singh, Adv. Mr. Krishnesh Bapat, Adv. Mr. Navneet R., Adv. Ms. Sonali Jain, Adv. Mr. C.U. Singh, Sr. Adv. Mr. Varun Mathew, Adv. Mr. Amjid Maqbool, Adv. Ms. Astha Sharma, Adv. UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R Learned Solicitor General, Mr. Tushar Mehta, submits that another Transfer Petition (C) Diary
2 No(s).14779 of 2021 is pending. Let these matters and Transfer Petition (C) Diary No(s).14779 of 2021 also be listed along with Special Leave Petition (C) No.10937 of 2019 before appropriate Bench on 16 th July, 2021. Registry to place the papers related to the matters before Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India for taking appropriate directions. (NEETU KHAJURIA) COURT MASTER (VIDYA NEGI) COURT MASTER