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Kerala HC issues notice to Centre on new IT rules
NEW DELHI: The Kerala high court on Wednesday issued a notice to the Centre on a plea challenging the new Information Technology (IT) rules to regulate digital news media. The development comes a day after the Delhi high court too sought the Union government’s response on another petition challenging the new guidelines.
The writ petition was filed by LiveLaw News Media Pvt Ltd, the publisher of news website LiveLaw and its founder M A Rashid and managing editor Manu Sebastian, who challenged the constitutional validity of the new rules terming them "arbitrary, vague, disproportionate and unreasonable."
The petitioners have argued that the regulatory mechanism under the rules cannot be termed as "reasonable restrictions" under Article 19 (2) of the Constitution. According to the plea, the rules impose an unconstitutional three-tiered complaints-and-adjudication structure upon publishers, which makes the executive both the complainant and the judge on vital free speech questions involving blocking and take down of online material.
"We are reporting judgments. Somebody to whom the judgement is not palatable, may make a grievance, and we are required to sit in appeal over the content," the petitioners' advocate told the court, as reported by the news website.
A single bench of justice PV Asha also restrained the central government from taking any coercive action against the news website under part three of the IT Rules.
The new IT (guidelines for intermediaries and digital media ethics code) rules 2021, notified by the Centre on 25 February, have been severely criticised by journalists, lawyers and activists who argue 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”. The rules recommend a three-tier mechanism for regulation of all online media, which confers blocking powers to an inter-ministerial committee.
On Tuesday, the Delhi HC directed Centre to respond to a similar petition filed by the Foundation of Independent Journalism (the non-profit company that publishes The Wire), which stated that the rules have put an additional regulatory burden on news media and current affairs.
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Swiggy sees record orders during India vs New Zealand T20 final
Chicken biryani tops match-day menu as fans order 7,500 times per minute at peak.
MUMBAI: India’s T20 final didn’t just break stumps, it broke Swiggy’s delivery records, proving cricket fans celebrate victories with plates, not just flags. Swiggy, India’s leading on-demand convenience platform, reported a sharp spike in food orders during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand. On 8 March 2026, overall orders rose 23.2 per cent year-on-year compared with the same date in 2025, driven by fans turning living rooms into mini stadiums complete with match-day feasts.
Key highlights from the evening:
- Orders during peak match hours (7–10 pm) were 2.1 times higher than pre-match levels.
- The highest order rate hit 7,500 orders per minute at 19:45.
- Chicken biryani reigned supreme as the most-ordered dish, followed by masala dosa, chicken fried rice, garlic breadsticks and paneer butter masala.
While metros such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad led volumes, the cricketing fever spread nationwide. Among emerging cities, Thiruvananthapuram, Surat and Rajkot recorded the strongest order growth. Smaller markets including Shillong, Agartala and Port Blair also showed significant appetite, underlining the expanding footprint of quick-commerce food delivery across India.
The surge reflects a growing trend of pairing major sporting events with doorstep delivery, turning big matches into shared, convenient celebrations. In a night where every boundary mattered, Swiggy proved the real MVP might just be the delivery partner who kept the snacks and the vibes flowing without missing a single wicket.
