Police register FIR after obscene images displayed during VC proceedings in Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka Police has registered a First Information Report (FIR) over the recent disturbance caused by unknown persons during the online proceedings before the Karnataka High Court..The FIR was registered under Sections 67 and 67 (A) of the Information Technology Act at Central CEN Crime Police Station on a complaint moved by the High Court’s administration. The provisions pertain to publishing or transmitting obscene or sexually explicit material in the electronic form.In the complaint, the High Court authorities said that unknown persons displayed obscene images and obstructed the court proceedings before a judge on December 4. The complaint also makes mention of the IP addresses of such users. .Meanwhile, the High Court on Tuesday suspended the live-streaming of its court proceedings and video conference hearings . Chief Justice PB Varale announced the move in Court shortly before the live stream or video-conference stream to the courtroom presided over by him was abruptly halted.“This is something unfortunate, the situation is an unprecedented situation. Otherwise, Karnataka High Court was always in favour using technology for the public at large. But for this situation, which is unprecedented,” the Chief Justice said..The High Court also issued a release stating that there had been a “cyber security issue” during the video conferencing proceedings for about two days due to which the online proceedings of all three benches of the High Court will remain suspended for the time being. “Therefore, it is requested that the advocates, public litigants/ party-in-persons, media persons, whoever appears through VC shall opt to appear physically until the VC proceedings are restored with new safeguards. The restoration of the VC proceedings will be informed to the general public shortly.”[Read FIR]