Need clarity on IT Act to avoid wrong interpretation: RR Patil

In the backdrop of public anger against the police arresting two girls from Palghar for posting comments on Facebook about Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s funeral, home minister RR Patil on Tuesday tacitly sided the police, saying there was a need for more clarity on the Information Technology Act.

Speaking to mediapersons, he said that more clarity would avoid ‘wrong interpretation’ of the law. “It’s a bit tricky. How does one decide whether a particular statement hurts sentiments of a community or not?” asked Patil.

He said this when asked about Union IT minister Kapil Sibal's statement that the law might have been misused by enforcement agencies in arrests of the two Palghar girls.

Patil also made a reference to the August 11 Azad Maidan violence. He said this episode had stemmed from the wrong use of social networking sites. He added, “People criticise you in any case, when you take action and also when you don't take action.”

Patil also clarified that arrest of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi was not similar to this case as police action against the cartoonist had been decided on the basis of expert legal opinion, adding that he would not like to talk about the case until the inquiry report was submitted on Wednesday.

Patil said the probe by Konkan special IG would look at all angles including sections applied against the girls and why and if the girl’s post could be deemed as inflammatory.