Section 66A IT Act: [Omitted.]

Information Technology Act, 2000

Section 66A IT Act at a Glance

Section 66A IT Act stands omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023, with effect from 30 November 2023. The Supreme Court had struck down Section 66A IT Act earlier, on 24 March 2015, in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India.

Section 66A IT Act Bare Act Text

66A. [Omitted.].

[Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc.] Omitted by the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (18 of 2023), s. 2 and Schedule (w.e.f. 30-11-2023).

Amendments to this section
  • Section 66A has been struck down by Supreme Court's Order dated 24-3-2015 in the Shreya Singhal Vs. Union of India, AIR 2015 SC. 1523.

Section 66A IT Act in Simple Words

Section 66A IT Act is omitted from the Information Technology Act, 2000 and is no longer part of the statute. Before omission, Section 66A IT Act carried the heading 'Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc.' Section 66A IT Act was omitted by Section 2 and the Schedule of the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (Act 18 of 2023), with effect from 30 November 2023.

The Supreme Court struck down Section 66A IT Act on 24 March 2015 in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, AIR 2015 SC 1523, holding that it violated the freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

FAQs on Section 66A IT Act

What is Section 66A IT Act?▼

Section 66A IT Act is an omitted section of the Information Technology Act, 2000 that carried the heading 'Punishment for sending offensive messages through communication service, etc.' before omission. Following the Supreme Court's Order dated 24 March 2015 striking down Section 66A IT Act, Parliament omitted it with effect from 30 November 2023.

Which court order struck down Section 66A IT Act?▼

The Supreme Court's Order dated 24 March 2015 in Shreya Singhal v. Union of India, AIR 2015 SC 1523.

Which Act omitted Section 66A IT Act from the statute?▼

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 (Act 18 of 2023). Section 2 and the Schedule of that Act omitted Section 66A IT Act with effect from 30 November 2023.

Can a person be prosecuted under Section 66A IT Act today?▼

No. The Supreme Court struck down Section 66A IT Act on 24 March 2015, and the section has been omitted from the Act since 30 November 2023, so there is no offence under Section 66A IT Act.

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Sources: Bare Act Text, Information Technology Act, 2000 ·