Following the uproar over arrestsmade under Section 66 (A) of the IT Act, the government todayissued guidelines that state approval from an officer of DCPlevel at rural areas and IG level in metros will have to besought before registering complaints under the controversialsection.
Last week two girls were arrested over a Facebook postcriticising the bandh like situation in Mumbai after Shiv Senasupremo Bal Thackeray's death while another boy was arrestedyesterday for posting "vulgar" comments against MNS chief RajThackeray and the people of Maharashtra on the socialnetworking site.
"... the concerned police officer or police station maynot register any complaints unless he has obtained priorapproval at the level of an officer not below the DCP rank inurban and rural areas and IG level in metros," sources said.
The government is confident that once these regulationsare put in place, such instances will not be repeated, thesources added.
"There are procedural difficulties faced..., we are goingto circulate to all state governments' as guidelines withregard to registering any complaints under Section 66 (A),"sources said.
Section 66 A, which is a bailable offence provides for ajail term of up to three years.