The Delhi High Court today exempted Google India and Facebook India officials from personal appearances before a magistrate who had summoned 21 websites, including them, for hosting allegedly objectionable materials on their web pages.
A bench of Justice Suresh Kait, however, refused to stay the trial court proceedings and asked the counsel to appear on behalf of the accused websites.
The trial court, which had issued summonses to the websites, is scheduled to hear journalist Vinay Rai's complaint on March 13. Rai has accused the websites of hosting allegedly obscene material on their webpages.
Advocates NK Kaul and Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Google India and Facebook India respectively, told Justice Kait that the Supreme Court too was seized with two cases which have some common issues and the decision will have a bearing on the case pending in the high court.
The lawyers said the apex court has reserved its verdict in one matter and it would hear another case tomorrow.
