'Look what happened in Nepal over a ban': SC refuses to entertain plea seeking ban on pornography, cites Nepal’s Gen Z protests
PTC Web Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a petition demanding a nationwide ban on pornography, drawing a comparison to the recent Gen Z protests in Nepal. Referring to the violent youth-led demonstrations that erupted over a similar restriction, the Bench remarked, “Look what happened in Nepal over a ban.”
The matter was heard by a Division Bench headed by outgoing Chief Justice BR Gavai, who is set to retire on November 23. Although the court showed reluctance to take up the issue immediately, it agreed to list the plea for hearing after four weeks.
The petitioner had requested the Supreme Court to direct the Centre to frame a national policy and implement an action plan to curb access to pornographic content, particularly among minors. The plea also sought to prohibit viewing such material in public spaces.
Highlighting the easy digital accessibility of explicit content, the petitioner said, “After digitalisation, everyone is connected… everything is available at a click, irrespective of education or awareness.” The plea also cited government admissions that “billions” of pornographic websites are accessible online.
The petitioner argued that during the Covid-19 pandemic, when children were using digital devices for online learning, there was no effective mechanism to prevent them from accessing adult content. Though parental control software exists, the plea emphasised the absence of a comprehensive national framework to address this growing concern.
According to the data submitted, over 20 crore pornographic videos and clips, including those featuring child sexual material, are reportedly available for sale in India. The petitioner further reminded the court that under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the government has the authority to block such sites from public access.
- With inputs from agencies
