Delhi assembly panel notice: Relief for Facebook in Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: In a relief for Facebook, the Supreme Court on Thursday said that appreciating evidence in criminal cases pertaining to Delhi riots was not within the jurisdiction of the Delhi Assembly Committee headed by Raghav Chadha, who it said shouldn't have made prima facie statement about prosecution of the social media giant in the riots case.
The top court was delivering its verdict on a plea filed by Facebook India vice president and MD Ajit Mohan and others challenging the summons issued by Delhi Assembly's Peace and Harmony committee for failing to appear before it as witness in connection with the north-east Delhi riots matter.
"Social media platforms have power and potential to influence people across borders. Debates and posts on these platforms -- like Facebook -- have potential to polarise the society as many members of society do not have the wherewithal to verify veracity of contents," the top court stated.
"Since Delhi Assembly itself has no jurisdiction over law and order situation and police, the peace and harmony committee would have no business to comment on the Delhi riots, especially the criminal cases and nature of evidence
Earlier in December last year, the peace and harmony committee had moved the top court seeking to intervene in the plea filed by Mohan and others.
On October 15 last year, the Centre had told the top court that proceedings of the Peace and Harmony committee is “without jurisdiction” as the issue pertained to law and order.
The apex court had said that its September 23 order asking the assembly's panel not to take any coercive action against Mohan, would continue till further orders.
The plea filed by Mohan, Facebook India Online Services Pvt Ltd and Facebook Inc has contended that the committee lacks power to summon or hold petitioners in breach of its privileges for failing to appear and it was exceeding its constitutional limits.
They have challenged the September 10 and 18 last year notices issued by the committee that sought Mohan's presence before the panel which is probing the Delhi riots in February and Facebook's role in spread of alleged hate speeches.
The Delhi Assembly had said that no coercive action has been taken against Mohan and he was only summoned by its committee to appear as witness in connection with north-east Delhi riots.
In an affidavit filed in the top court, the Delhi Assembly had said that Mohan has not been issued any summons for breach of privilege.
(With inputs from agencies)