In Brief
A public-spirited doctor filed a petition seeking directions to block websites and advertisements promoting sex selection and prenatal sex determination in violation of the PCPNDT Act, 1994. The petitioner sought orders against search engines (Google India, Yahoo! India, Microsoft) and government ministries to implement the 'auto block' doctrine. The Court held that search engine companies are legally obligated under Section 22 of the PCPNDT Act to implement automatic blocking systems to prevent display of sex-selection related content within a reasonable time. The Court rejected the search engines' Article 19(1)(a) freedom of speech defence, holding that the right to expression does not permit violating statutory prohibitions. The Court directed establishment of a Nodal Agency to coordinate complaints and directed collaborative efforts between the government, search engines, and the petitioner to develop practical solutions for implementation. The petition was disposed with directions for ongoing cooperation and monitoring.
The lawyer headnote and full judgment text are available to registered users.