'No Coercive Step Against Facebook And Ajit Mohan': SC Directs Delhi Assembly To File Counter Affidavit; Next Hearing On October 15

Lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Delhi assembly's peace committee told the apex court that MD Mohan was not summoned as an accused and that no coercive action was intended against the company.

(File Photo/ Getty)

Supreme Court of India on Wednesday took up the plea filed by Facebook India Vice President Ajit Mohan against the summons issued to him by the authorities of Delhi Legislative Assembly's Peace and Harmony Committee which is probing the social media platform's connection with the Delhi riots. The senior Facebook employees were being issued notice for deposing before the panel on Wednesday in connection with allegations that the social media giant ignored hate speech by Bharatiya Janata Party leaders on its platform. Challenging the notice, senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi representing Facebook and Mohan said that Delhi Assembly has no constitutional rights to either summon Facebook or examine issues that fall in the exclusive domain of the Centre. The plea urged the apex court to set aside the summons issued on September 10 and 18, and also restrain the Delhi Legislative assembly from taking coercive action against the petitioner in furtherance to these summonses. On this, Lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Delhi assembly's peace committee told the apex court that MD Mohan was not summoned as an accused and that no coercive action was intended against the company. As quoted in reports, Singhvi in the defence said that Mohan was called only as witness and not as a accused. No coercive steps were intended. He also mentioned that the Delhi Assembly just want take suggestions from the company and devise mechanism so that Facebook is not misused. Hearing both the side, the top court bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Aniruddha Bose and Krishna Murari said that the notice issued to Mohan by the panel "did not give such an impression." The three judge bench adjourned the hearing till October 15 and ordered that Delhi Assembly's Peace and Harmony Committee will not hold a meeting, till further orders. It also recorded Singhvi’s submissions and asked Delhi Assembly to file counter affidavit in one week time.