Government issues fresh guidelines on IT Act

The government yesterday issued fresh guidelines stating that police officers police officers holding the rank of DCP (Deputy Commissioner of Police) alone can permit registration of a case under Section 66 of the IT Act. In metropolitan cities, the sanction for prosecution must be obtained from the Inspector General of Police.

"The concerned police officer or police station may not register any complaints under Section 66 (A)unless he has obtained prior approval at the level of an officer not below the DCP rank in urban and rural areas and IG level in metros," a top source said.

At present, an in-charge of the police station, or an inspector can sanction the registration of and FIR under the provision.
"There are procedural difficulties faced... we are going to circulate to all state governments as guidelines with regard to registering any complaints under Section 66 (A)," he said.
However, these are merely operational guidelines, since the Act can only be amended in the parliament.u00a0