Supreme Court: Considering the need for establishing a Central Reporting Mechanism in matters relating to cybercrimes concerning particularly those relating to rape, gang rape, child pornography, etc, the bench of Madan B. Lokur and UU Lalit, JJ asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to submit a comprehensive and detailed status report on progress made on the road map already indicated by the Government in the affidavit dated 1st December, 2015.
The Ministry of Home Affairs had submitted a brief status report that showed that the Government had committed itself to open the Beta version of the portal for online cybercrime reporting and that the public launch of the Beta version is expected in the last week of April, 2018.
It was also submitted before the Court that there are several other Ministries that are interested in similar issues such as Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Ministry of Electronics, Information and Technology is also interested in taking corrective steps in so far as cybercrimes are concerned particularly those relating to rape/gang rape/child pornography.
The Court, hence, said:
“It would, of course, be in the interest of all concerned if the Central Reporting Mechanism is set up.”
The Ministry of Home Affairs has been asked to file the detailed status report on the next date of hearing i.e. 11.05.2018. [In re: Prajwala Letter dated 18.2.2015 Videos of Sexual Violence and Recommendations, 2018 SCC OnLine SC 389, order dated 16.04.2018]
