Delhi Riots Case: SC Dismisses Facebook India VP’s Plea Challenging Summons By Assembly Committee

The Delhi Assembly’s Peace and Harmony Committee had issued the summons to Facebook for its failure to curb inflammatory content during the violence in north-east Delhi.

SC dismisses Facebook India VP Ajit Mohan's plea against summons by Assembly panel

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the plea filed by Facebook India Vice President Ajit Mohan challenging the summons issued by a committee of the Delhi Assembly in connection with the riots in north-east Delhi last year.

The Delhi Assembly’s Peace and Harmony Committee had issued the summons to Facebook for its failure to curb inflammatory content during the violence in north-east Delhi.

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The apex court, however, made it clear that law and order does not come under the jurisdiction of the Delhi Assembly.

An apex court bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Dinesh Maheshwari and Hrishikesh Roy held that the petition filed by Mohan challenging the notices issued by the Delhi Assembly panel seeking his presence before it as part of its inquiry into the riots was premature as nothing has happened before the committee.

The apex court said the Facebook India Vice President can, therefore, decline the committee from answering the questions related to it.

The apex court also agreed with the Delhi Assembly’s submission that no coercive action has been taken against Mohan and the notice issued to him was to seek his assistance in examining a social problem.

This came on plea filed by Mohan, Facebook India Online Services Pvt Ltd and Facebook Inc who contended that the Delhi Assembly Committee lacks the power to summon or hold petitioners in breach of its privileges for failing to appear.

Further contending that the panel was exceeding its constitutional limits, they have challenged the notices issued on September 10 and 18 last year that sought Mohan’s presence before the panel probing the Delhi riots and Facebook’s role in spread of the alleged hate speeches.