Question

Section 66A of the Information Technology Act was struck down under Article 19(1)(a) read with Article 19(2) in the case of:

• A. Justice K. S. Puttaswamy Vs Union of India
• B. Kharak Singh Vs State of U.P.
• C. Govinda Vs State of M.P.
• D. Shreya Singhal Vs Union of India

Hint:

The Shreya Singhal case led to the striking down of Section 66A of the IT Act, as it violated the fundamental right to free speech.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding Section 66A of the Information Technology Act.
Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, dealt with punishment for sending offensive or menacing messages through communication services. The section was struck down by the Supreme Court in the landmark case of Shreya Singhal Vs Union of India (2015), as it violated the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a).
Step 2: Explanation of the options.
- (a) Justice K. S. Puttaswamy Vs Union of India: This case dealt with the right to privacy and not Section 66A.
- (b) Kharak Singh Vs State of U.P.: This case dealt with the right to privacy and not Section 66A.
- (c) Govinda Vs State of M.P.: This is not related to Section 66A.
- (d) Shreya Singhal Vs Union of India: This is the correct case, as the Supreme Court struck down Section 66A in this case, citing it as unconstitutional.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Thus, the correct answer is (d) Shreya Singhal Vs Union of India.