You cannot be jailed for an “offensive” post under Section 66A
In one line
Section 66A of the IT Act, used to arrest people for online posts, was struck down.
What happened
Two young women in Maharashtra were arrested over a Facebook post and a “like”. A law student challenged Section 66A, which punished messages that were “grossly offensive” or caused “annoyance”.
What the court decided
- Section 66A was struck down completely because its words were vague and hit free speech under Article 19(1)(a).
- Online platforms must take content down only on a court order or a lawful government direction.
- The government’s power to block websites under Section 69A was upheld, with safeguards.
What it means for you
- No one can be booked under Section 66A. If you are, the case is invalid.
- Other laws still apply online, such as defamation, threats and hate speech.
- If someone defames you online, you can send a legal notice.
Source: Judgment of the Supreme Court of India in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, decided on 24 Mar 2015.
Defamation NoticeDrafted & signed by an advocate · Within 24 hours
This summary is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Laws change; talk to an advocate before acting.
