'How Long Does Your Process Take?': Delhi HC Pulls Up Twitter For Delaying Appointment Of Grievance Redressal Officer

Delhi High Court says Twitter is in defiance of the law for not appointing the grievance redressal officer.

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New Delhi: Amid the ongoing conflict between the microblogging site Twitter and the Union Government, Delhi High Court on Tuesday expressed displeasure over Twitter delaying the appointment of a grievance redressal officer which was one of the requirements under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

Delhi High Court says Twitter is in defiance of the law for not appointing the grievance redressal officer.

According to ANI, Justice Rekha Palli asks, "How long does your (Twitter's) process take? If Twitter thinks it can take as long as it wants in our country, I'll not allow that."

The single-judge bench of the Delhi High Court today said it was not going to give Twitter any protection from consequences of non-compliance, and granted Twitter time as sought for, to get back on the issue according to Live Law. 

She added, "I am not giving them any protection. I have already made it clear that they have to comply."

According to the Live Law report, Palli in her order recorded that the senior counsel appearing for Twitter did not have any instructions on the issue, and had sought time as Twitter's office is in San Francisco - a different time zone.

"Perusal of reply shows that as of May 31 Twitter had only appointed an Interim Grievance Officer. I am informed that the company is in the process of appointing a Grievance Officer. When asked in how much time such appointment will be made, counsel has no instructions. He seeks more time as time zone of company is in San Francisco," the order noted. 

The Government of India on Monday told the Delhi High Court that twitter failed to comply with new IT Rules, leading to a loss of immunity as an "intermediary".The central government told the court that the microblogging site's failure to appoint key officers, even after three months granted to comply with the new IT rules, amounts to a breach of the law of the land. 

"In spite of 3 months' time granted to all SSMIs (significant social media intermediaries) to comply with the IT Rules 2021, having expired on May 26, Twitter Inc has failed to fully comply with the same," Centre told High Court in its affidavit. 

Twitter Inc had initially appointed an interim Resident Grievance Officer and an interim Nodal Contact Person. Later, reports emerged claiming that Twitter’s interim resident grievance officer for India reportedly quit from the post. The social media company’s website no longer displays his name, leaving the micro-blogging site without a grievance official.