DMK Treasurer M K Stalin today hailed the Supreme Court order striking down Section 66(A) of the IT Act as a 'landmark day for Indian democracy,' but urged social media users to use their freedom of expression with caution.
"I would like to urge users of social media to use their freedom of expression with caution. The internet gives us great power to make our ideas heard but with such power comes the responsibility to be aware of how these ideas affect society around us," he said in his Facebook page.
"While the objective of the section is to prevent the misuse of the internet and other information technology, Section 66A is widely framed, which allows for whimsical interpretations by police and ruling governments," he said.
The section had been misused to gag legitimate free speech online, and to curtail freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under the Constitution, he said and expressed hope that today's judgement 'ushers an era where we become more tolerant of each other's views and political leaders take dissent as feedback on their performance.'
A Supreme Court bench of Justices J Chelameswar and R F Nariman had termed liberty of thought and expression as "cardinal" and said the "public's right to know is directly affected" by the section.
