Delhi High Court provides Twitter one last possibility to comply with IT Rules

Expressing displeasure more than appointment of a “contingent worker” as chief compliance officer (CCO), the Delhi High Court on Wednesday gave the microblogging web-site, Twitter one “last opportunity” to file a “better” affidavit displaying complete compliance with the new Information Technology (IT) Rules.

Justice Rekha Palli took robust exception to Twitter’s attitude and termed its most current compliance affidavit as “unacceptable”.

The judge told Twitter “not make things worse for itself by expecting the court to wait forever”, as the affidavit filed by it showed significant non-compliance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. The court did not take kindly to the company’s move to appoint one Vinay Prakash, a 31-year old “contingent worker” by way of a third-party contractor, as CCO when the guidelines mandate appointment of a crucial managerial individual or a senior employee as CCO.

“He (CCO) is categorical (in his affidavit) that he is not an employee. This itself is in the teeth of the rule. There has to be some seriousness about the rule. Some sanctity has to be given,” the judge stated when rapping Twitter for employing term “contingent worker”, specifically when it was not recognized who the third-party contractor was.

“What is this contingent worker? I don’t know what it would mean. I have a problem with the word. It seems to mean that he was employed on some contingency. Contingent then third party contractor. What is this? I am not happy with the affidavit. This cannot be accepted,” the judge told Twitter’s senior counsel Sajan Poovayya.

“File a better affidavit. This is not acceptable. I’m giving you a long rope but don’t expect the court to do it on and on. Disclose the name of the third party contractor and explain contingent,” justice Palli stated when granting a week’s time to Twitter to file a “better” affidavit.

Twitter has to disclose all the facts connected to the appointment of the CCO as properly as the resident grievance officer (RGO) and also clarify why a nodal get in touch with individual was not be appointed however and by when it will do so.

Poovayya assured the bench that the business would file a clearly worded affidavit in a week’s time.

Additional solicitor basic Chetan Sharma, appearing for the central government, argued that when Twitter earns millions of dollars in income from India, it is merely employing nuanced phrases like “interim” and “contingency” to prevent compliance with the Indian law. Twitter was acting in “abject non-compliance of the rules” as the CCO has to be an employee and not a contingent worker, he stated. “This is absolute non-compliance with rules. It’s been months. They cannot continue to have it so easy. Either they comply wholeheartedly or they don’t comply. This constant non-compliance using nuance terminology cannot be accepted anymore,” Sharma contended.

The matter would be heard next on August 6.


Originally appeared on: TheSpuzz

Scoophot
Logo