The contention by most of the petitioners was that Section 66A is vague and allows the police arbitrary interpretation and misuse of the law. (AFP Photo)
New Delhi, March 24 (PTI) After the Supreme Court today struck down Section 66 (A) of the Information Technology Act, which allowed arrests for offensive online content, the Congress acknowledged that the law enacted by its government in 2008 was poorly drafted and vulnerable to misuse.
The party, however, tried to deflect criticism by targeting the BJP-led government for defending the law in the court.
"The section was poorly drafted and was vulnerable. It was
capable of being misused and, in fact, it was misused," said senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram.
Mr Chidambaram, who held the Home and Finance portfolios in UPA government, said in case of misuse of freedom of speech, ordinary laws can apply.
"If some provisions of the law have to be strengthened, that could be considered. But Section 66A was not the answer," he said.
Party spokesperson Sanjay Jha questioned why the Modi
government had "stoutly defended continuity" of the provision in the Supreme Court when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had once openly opposed the provision before taking power in May last year.
"To all those bhakts criticizing @KapilSibal , Modi Sarkar stoutly defended continuity of #Sec66A in SC . Smell
the coffee beans, folk," Mr Jha tweeted.
While scrapping the provision today, the Supreme Court said it "is unconstitutional and we have no hesitation in striking it down."