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SC to Review Bombay HC Verdict Striking Down IT Rules Amendments on Government Fact Check Units

PolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
10 Mar 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:September 26, 2024
Bodies:Supreme CourtBombay High Court
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What This Article Covers

1.The Supreme Court will examine the Bombay High Court's September 26, 2024 verdict that struck down amendments to the Information Technology Rules allowing the Centre to establish Fact Check Units (FCUs).

2.A bench led by CJI Surya Kant termed the question of 'paramount importance' and issued notice but refused to stay the High Court order at this stage.

3.The case involves a challenge by standup comic Kunal Kamra and centers on balancing constitutional rights against the regulation of 'false and misleading' content online.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine the constitutionality of amendments to IT Rules that empowered the Centre to set up Fact Check Units (FCUs) to identify false news against the government. The Bombay High Court had struck down these provisions in 2024, calling them unconstitutional. This case raises critical questions about balancing freedom of expression with the need to curb misinformation on social media platforms.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Bombay HC Verdict DateSeptember 26, 2024
Supreme Court BenchCJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, R Mahadevan
Key PetitionerStandup comic Kunal Kamra

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Bombay HC Verdict Date: September 26, 2024
  • ›Supreme Court Bench: CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, R Mahadevan
  • ›Target this Data: September 26, 2024 (Date of Bombay HC verdict)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) - parent ministry for IT Rules
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

The amendments to the Information Technology Rules, which are under Supreme Court review, fall under the purview of which Union Ministry?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the recent Supreme Court proceedings on Fact Check Units:

1. The Supreme Court has stayed the operation of the Bombay High Court verdict striking down the IT Rules amendments.

2. The petitioner in the original case before the Bombay High Court was standup comic Kunal Kamra.

3. The Solicitor General argued that the intent of the Fact Check Unit rules was to curb satire and critical expression against the government.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

On which date did the Bombay High Court deliver its verdict striking down the amendments to the IT Rules concerning Fact Check Units?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was a key concern raised by the Supreme Court bench regarding the struck-down IT Rules amendments for Fact Check Units?

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