Delhi panel not a ‘prosecuting agency’ — full text of SC order on Facebook plea against summons
Judiciary

Delhi panel not a ‘prosecuting agency’ — full text of SC order on Facebook plea against summons

SC bench noted that Facebook VP Ajit Mohan’s request in Delhi riots case was 'premature' as he was just being asked to appear before the panel. Read full order here.

   
A logo of Facebook | Representational image

A logo of Facebook | Representational image

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday refused to quash summons issued a Delhi Assembly panel to Facebook India’s Managing Director Ajit Mohan. The panel was constituted to probe the riots that rocked Northeast Delhi in February 2020.

The top court, however, noted that the committee cannot have a ‘misconception’ that it is some kind of a “prosecuting agency which can embark on the path of holding people guilty and direct the filing of supplementary charge sheet against them”. The court said this aspect has to be kept in mind by the committee so as to not vitiate future proceedings and give rise to another challenge.

The order came on a plea challenging the summons issued by the Peace and Harmony Committee, on 10 and 12 September 2020. The plea was filed by Mohan, Facebook India Online Services Pvt Ltd and Facebook Inc.

Read the full order here: