Overview

• On July 1 the Karnataka High Court heard X’s final arguments as the company sought to strike down or limit Section 79(3)(b) and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, 2021.
• X argued that the Sahyog portal allows any designated officer to issue takedown notices without due process, jeopardizing its safe harbour protection and free-speech rights.
• Solicitor General Tushar Mehta maintained that notices are sent by statutory functionaries under established legal obligations and rejected claims of indiscriminate censorship.
• The court approved X’s request to amend its writ petition, rebuked disparaging language towards officials, and allowed interventions from digital media groups demanding hearings for content creators.
• Justice M. Nagaprasanna scheduled the concluding hearing for July 8 to determine the validity of the automated takedown regime.