No action against X yet for not joining Sahyog: Centre

X ALSO ACCUSED THE GOVERNMENT OF ENGAGING IN "MUDSLINGING" BY CITING PAST INSTANCES WHERE SOME POSTS WERE ACCIDENTALLY NOT TAKEN DOWN

- Ayesha Arvind

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court on Thursday recorded the Centre's statement that it has not yet taken any adverse action against X Corp (formerly Twitter) for not joining the government's online portal, Sahyog, even as X pressed for interim protection against any order that could strip it of the "safe harbour" protection that shields it from legal liability for content posted by its users under Indian law.

Appearing for the Union government, solicitor general Tushar Mehta opposed X's plea for interim relief, asserting that merely asking the company to join the Sahyog portal did not warrant such protection.

"The additional solicitor general has already told the court that we have done nothing that will entitle X Corp to interim relief. Besides, joining a portal is not something so grave that you need interim protection. You join the portal. It is subject to final order. But one thing is clear. If you are operating in India, then Indian laws bind you," Mehta argued.

Justice M Nagaprasanna, taking note of the government's submission, agreed that interim protection was not required at this stage. Instead, the court said it would proceed to hear the final arguments from both sides before delivering a verdict.