In Brief
A doctor filed a writ petition challenging whether Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft were adequately complying with Section 22 of the PC-PNDT Act, 1994—which prohibits advertisements promoting sex selection. The Court held that search engines must proactively block sex-selection-related content through an auto-block mechanism, not merely respond to complaints. The Court directed the Union of India to establish a Nodal Agency to receive complaints and coordinate compliance, with deletion mandated within 36 hours. Each search engine must set up an In-House Expert Body to independently delete violating content. The Court rejected Article 19(1)(a) defences for prohibited speech and emphasized that declining sex ratio demands concrete enforcement action.">
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