'Rule Of Land Supreme, Not Your Policy': Shashi Tharoor-Led Parliamentary Panel Warns Twitter

During the hearing, the panel even asked Twitter why it should not be fined as it has been found "violating" rules of the country.

(Representative Image/Getty)

New Delhi: Indian representative of the micro-blogging site Twitter on Friday appeared before a parliamentary panel amid its tussle with the Union government over the new IT rules with an aim to discuss issue pertaining to safeguarding citizens' rights and preventing misuse of online platforms.

According to reports, members of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, headed by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, strongly objected to Twitter India officials' observations that they abide by their policy and categorically told them that the rule of land is supreme.

During the hearing, the panel even asked Twitter why it should not be fined as it has been found "violating" rules of the country.

Responding to the same, Twitter claimed that it is following rules and had appointed an interim chief compliance officer. The Committee also pointed that Twitter had been fined in Ireland earlier. 

Futher the committee members asked Twitter representatives appearing before it to submit in writing, "How are you placed in Twitter India and how much executive authority you have in terms of taking important policy decisions."

Members of the panel asked some tough and searching questions to Twitter India officials but there answers lacked clarity and were ambiguous, sources close to news agency PTI reported.

The panel members strongly objected to the observation of Twitter India officials that its policy is on par with the rule of land and categorically told them "rule of land is supreme, not your policy"

Twitter and the Centre have been at loggerheads over several issues for the last few months.

PM Modi-led Central government, had earlier this month, slapped a notice to Twitter giving it one last chance to 'immediately' comply with country's new IT rules and even warned that if it fails to adhere to the norms, it will lead to the platform losing exemption from liability under the IT Act.

On June 16, the social media platform lost its status of intermediary platform in India over non-compliance to the new intermediary guidelines.

Currently, Twitter has lost its legal shield in the country from prosecution over posts.