iWorld
Delhi HC issues notice to Centre on another plea challenging new IT rules
NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Friday sought the Centre's response on another plea challenging the new Information Technology rules which seek to regulate digital news media.
A bench of chief justice D N Patel and justice Jasmeet Singh issued notices to the ministry of electronics and information technology and the ministry of information and broadcasting and granted them time to file their responses, PTI reported.
In its plea challenging the new IT rules, Quint Digital Media has argued that regulation of publishers of news and current affairs content, as provided under Part III, is in violation of Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution of India, as reported by Bar and Bench. It stated that online news portals ought to be treated on par with print newspapers as they both contain written material on current affairs. It further argued that the rules attempt to proscribe content on digital media sites based on “vague and subjective grounds”.
The case was adjourned for 16 April along with another similar petition filed by the Foundation for Independent Journalism and The Wire, which had submitted that the rules put an additional regulatory burden on digital news media. A plea was also filed in the Kerala high court by legal website LiveLaw. In both cases, the courts had issued notices to the Centre.
The government had laid down the new rules for social media platforms, digital media and OTT platforms on 25 February. The Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules 2021 enable the setting up of a three-tier oversight mechanism for online content and a grievance redressal mechanism. Under the rules, social media and streaming companies will be required to take down contentious content quicker. It also makes these platforms more pliable in assisting government agencies in the investigation.
Several media organisations have criticised the rules stating that the regulations could pose a threat to freedom of expression by laying the ground for tightening executive control over digital media. The Editors Guild of India too had demanded the repeal of these rules, highlighting that the laws are “deeply concerning”.
iWorld
Tips Music CEO Hari Nair to step down
Girish Taurani and Sushant Dalmia to jointly steer the company as the hunt for a new chief begins
MUMBAI: A leadership shuffle is under way at Tips Music. Hari Nair, the company’s chief executive, will step down on April 30 as the music label begins the search for a successor.
The company said Girish Taurani, executive director, and Sushant Dalmia, chief financial officer, will jointly oversee operations during the transition while the board identifies a permanent replacement.
Nair joined Tips Music in 2023 and set about reshaping the veteran music label into a more digital, data-led enterprise. During his tenure, the company secured licensing and partnership deals with global platforms including Sony Music Publishing and TikTok, while renewing agreements with Warner Music Group.
Drawing on earlier experience in technology and entertainment, including a stint at ByteDance, Nair pushed the organisation towards a performance-driven culture. He built a brand partnerships division and introduced proprietary software systems aimed at strengthening digital distribution and data capabilities.
Kumar Taurani, chairman and managing director, credited Nair with embedding a data-led culture within the company and driving revenue growth in line with shareholder commitments.
In his resignation note, Nair said that after helping transition the label into a modern, digitally focused and process-driven organisation, the time had come to pursue his next leadership challenge.
The leadership change comes as the broader Tips Films group shows signs of financial stabilisation. In the third quarter of FY26 the company reported a net loss of Rs 2.86 crore, narrowing sharply from Rs 14.2 crore in the previous quarter. For the nine months ended December, losses stood at Rs 12.37 crore.
Yet revenue told a more volatile story. Income from operations slid to Rs 4 crore in Q3 FY26 from Rs 56 crore in the preceding quarter, taking total operating income to Rs 4.56 crore.
For a company built on a catalogue of more than 34,000 tracks and decades of Bollywood hits, the next chief will inherit both a digital engine and a volatile music market. The playlist may be familiar, but the next act at Tips Music is only just beginning.
