Watching porn in the privacy of your own isn't is not a crime, says the Supreme Court of India, and declined to pass an interim order to block pornographic websites in the country.
“Such interim orders cannot be passed by this court. Somebody may come to the court and say look I am above 18 and how can you stop me from watching it within the four walls of my room. It is a violation of Article 21 [right to personal liberty],” Chief Justice H.L. Dattu observed.
He was reacting to a PIL petition filed by advocate Kamlesh Vashwani in August 2014 urging the court to block porn website in India. Vashwani had earlier complained that the court should step in and pass an interim order to take these sites off the internet in India. He had claimed that there were 4 crore porn website operating in the country. The government had then said that it was helpless to shut these websites down as most of them had servers located outside the country.
The government is expected to reply on the issue in the four weeks. Chief Justice Dattu acknowledged that the issue is serious, in the meanwhile, and said that some steps need to be taken. "The Centre is expected to take a stand. Let's see what stand the Centre will take," he said.
{{/usCountry}}The government is expected to reply on the issue in the four weeks. Chief Justice Dattu acknowledged that the issue is serious, in the meanwhile, and said that some steps need to be taken. "The Centre is expected to take a stand. Let's see what stand the Centre will take," he said.
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