Arguments on AAP-run Delhi assembly summoning Facebook today; Harish Salve for Ajit Mohan

Aam Ami Party (AAP) leer Raghav Chha has said that arguments in Supreme Court between Facebook and Delhi Assembly's Committee on Peace and Harmony will begin from Thursday. Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government h summoned Facebook for "intentional omission and deliberate inaction on part of social media platform" with respect to hate speeches during Delhi riots in February last year. tech giant h n challenged summons issued by Delhi government's committee in Top Court and vocate Harish Salve is appearing for company.

"Facebook's challenge to summons issued by Delhi Assembly's Committee on peace and harmony came up today before Hon'ble Supreme Court. Hon'ble SC was graciously pleased to allow intervention of chairman of committee on peace and harmony. Arguments shall begin from tomorrow," Chha, MLA from Delhi's Rajinder Nagar tweeted on Wednesday.

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On December 2, 2020, Supreme Court issued a tice to  Delhi Assembly's Peace and Harmony Committee as it wanted to become a party to petition filed by Facebook India Vice President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan challenging panel's summons. Facebook India Vice President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan h moved top court challenging two summons issued by  Delhi Legislative Assembly Committee against him -- on September 10 and 18 -- on grounds that panel violated fundamental rights of petitioner under Article 19(1)(a) and Article 21, guaranteed under part III of Indian Constitution.

Moreover, Centre h said in previous hearing that Delhi Assembly h jurisdiction to summon Mohan. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul in a statement, “Public order and police are t in ir domain. Hence, it is beyond ir jurisdiction.” Appearing for Mohan and Facebook, Harish Salve told top Court that Delhi Assembly threatened him with “breach of privilege” if he did t appear before committee and testify. He h said that Mohan can exercise his right of silence and cant be forced. 

However, senior vocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi appearing for Delhi Assembly, said that Mohan was called as an expert to put forth “constructive suggestions” in order to prevent such incidents in future and ded that committee’s role was to make “positive recommendations”. re was coercive action intended against Mohan, ded Singhvi.

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Ajit Mohan appears before IT panel

Ajit Mohan h appeared before a parliamentary panel called to discuss alleged "misuse of social media platforms", against backdrop of larger row over social-media platform's hate-speech policy. Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Techlogy was convened to hear Facebook's views on subject of "safeguarding citizens' rights" along with "prevention of misuse of social/online news media platforms"; including special emphasis on women security in digital , as per nda of meeting. It was heed by Congress leer Shashi Tharoor along with representatives of Ministry of Electronics and Information Techlogy. 

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