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Delhi Police cites UAPA to block website opposing draft EIA 2020; site back online after cops 'withdraw' notice
Running an online campaign against the controversial Draft EIA 2020, FridaysforFuture.in was blocked by the Delhi Police, saying it depicted "objectionable contents and unlawful activities or terrorist act, which are dangerous for the peace, tranquillity and sovereignty of the India"
The notice further said, “The above website depicts objectionable contents and unlawful activities or terrorist act, which are dangerous for the peace, tranquillity and sovereignty of the India. The publication and transmission of such objectionable contents is a cognizable and punishable criminal offence under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.”Two days later, FFF India, which is also the India chapter of a movement led by Greta Thunberg, was blocked. Volunteers with FFF India called it "web emergency”.Delhi Police Notice by Devparna Acharya on Scribd
Section 18 of the UAPA, a law which has been criticised for being draconian and misused by the State to silence dissent, reads, “Whoever conspires or attempts to commit, or advocates, abets, advises or incites or knowingly facilitates the commission of, a terrorist act or any act preparatory to the commission of a terrorist act, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.”On 22 July, FFF India sent a representation to Anyesh Roy, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime Unit, Delhi Police. The representation pointed out that “since the campaign was launched, the need for extensive consultation and publicity regarding this process has been underscored” by the orders of the Delhi High Court, and the Court of Karnataka dated 8 July and 16 July respectively. The orders have “directed the Central Government to ‘give wide publicity’ to the notification “so that ‘citizens will be in a position to submit objections prior to 11th August 2020’.”The representation further points out that “FFF India did not actually send any emails, and only provided content to help other concerned persons draft their own representations. A basic scrutiny would show that no emails were ever sent from the FFF Website but from private email addresses of concerned citizens of India. Furthermore, the content that was available on the FFF Website was only suggested text, subject to any modification that the sender of the email might so desire to make.”In response to the UAPA allegations made by the Delhi Police’s Cyber Crime Unit, the FFI India said, “It begs belief that in the world’s largest representative democracy, merely facilitating citizens in asking questions of their elected representatives can be termed as an objectionable activity and facilitating religious hatred.”
Roy, however, said the notice was “inadvertent”. "There is no charge of UAPA," he said. “Notice was issued under a section that was not appropriate to the matter. And it was immediately withdrawn, and we sent a notice under the relevant section of 66 under IT Act. The moment the issue got resolved, the notice was also withdrawn. Presently, if the website is not running, it is not because of us."FFF India, however, said they have not received any intimation as claimed by the Delhi Police, for it wouldn’t have sent a reply to that notice on 22 July. M Yuwan, a volunteer with FFF India, said they didn't receive any communication after the 8 July notice."The domain owner said there has been no communication since the 8 July notice," Yuwan said. “If the Delhi Police claims the notice has been withdrawn, then it is not reflecting anywhere. There is some kind of miscommunication somewhere. The website is still blocked."
Parth MN is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai. He predominantly covers agriculture along with politics and current affairs. He has been awarded the Lorenzo Natali Media Prize by the European Commission.
First Published:Jul 24, 2020, 13:29:33 IST
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