The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Central government on a plea filed by the owner of a satirical website named ‘Dowry Calculator’ challenging the government’s decision to block it [Tanul Thakur v. Union of India]..Justice Prathiba M Singh asked the government as well as the petitioner to file their written submissions and listed the case for hearing on May 15..The website was created by one Tanul Thakur in 2011. However, the government decided to block it in July 2018, based on a complaint from then Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi.In May 2022, the High Court had directed the committee constituted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) to give Thakur a post-decision hearing regarding the blocking order..The Court was informed today that MEITY addressed a communication to Thakur in June last year stating that the committee had recommended that the Ministry retain its decision to block ‘Dowry Calculator’.This recommendation had been accepted by MeitY as well, and the website remains blocked till date, the Court was told.Appearing for Thakur, Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal told the Bench that the website was created to make fun of the social evil, but the government’s stand is that it will defame India in the eyes of the world.“This is a free website, zero revenue… It shines a mirror… It seems they (government) are saying that dowry will go away if we stop hearing the word,” Aggarwal stated.Justice Singh responded that the website appeared "quite creative". As the counsel appearing for the Union of India was not present in court, the Bench listed the case for further hearing in May..Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) represented Thakur before the High Court.
The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Central government on a plea filed by the owner of a satirical website named ‘Dowry Calculator’ challenging the government’s decision to block it [Tanul Thakur v. Union of India]..Justice Prathiba M Singh asked the government as well as the petitioner to file their written submissions and listed the case for hearing on May 15..The website was created by one Tanul Thakur in 2011. However, the government decided to block it in July 2018, based on a complaint from then Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi.In May 2022, the High Court had directed the committee constituted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) to give Thakur a post-decision hearing regarding the blocking order..The Court was informed today that MEITY addressed a communication to Thakur in June last year stating that the committee had recommended that the Ministry retain its decision to block ‘Dowry Calculator’.This recommendation had been accepted by MeitY as well, and the website remains blocked till date, the Court was told.Appearing for Thakur, Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal told the Bench that the website was created to make fun of the social evil, but the government’s stand is that it will defame India in the eyes of the world.“This is a free website, zero revenue… It shines a mirror… It seems they (government) are saying that dowry will go away if we stop hearing the word,” Aggarwal stated.Justice Singh responded that the website appeared "quite creative". As the counsel appearing for the Union of India was not present in court, the Bench listed the case for further hearing in May..Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) represented Thakur before the High Court.