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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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Piyush Thakur steps down as Inshorts’ chief revenue officer
Former vice president and cro says exit marks a new chapter after close to a decade of building revenue and partnerships at Inshorts Group.
NOIDA: Piyush Thakur has stepped away from Inshorts Group after nearly 10 years with the company, marking the end of a long tenure that culminated in his role as chief revenue officer.
In a farewell note, Thakur said he was “turning a new page” after almost a decade at Inshorts, calling it one of the hardest professional decisions he has made. He added that his exit was not driven by uncertainty about the future, but by reflection on a long association with the company.
Thakur joined Inshorts in October 2016 as vice president and spent around seven years in the role before being elevated to chief revenue officer in April 2024, a position he held until April 2026.
He said his tenure was defined by “thousands of mornings, late nights, product debates and breakthrough moments”, as the company evolved into a large-scale digital news platform used by millions.
In his note, Thakur emphasised that Inshorts’ growth was a collective effort across teams, adding that engineers, designers, sales teams and customer support staff all contributed to building the platform. He said the company’s success was not the result of individuals but of “everyone who stayed, passed through, and left their mark”.
Before Inshorts, Thakur worked across several digital media and business development roles. At ESPN, he served as senior regional manager from October 2015 to October 2016, focusing on growth initiatives, strategic opportunities and video distribution.
At Times Internet, he worked for nearly three years, including as head of business development from April 2015 to September 2015 and chief manager from January 2013 to March 2015. His responsibilities included monetisation of mobile platforms, managing media and developer partnerships, and driving revenue across digital properties such as The Times of India and The Economic Times.
Earlier, he worked at Brandmovers as head of business development from June 2012 to June 2013, handling digital, mobile and social media marketing solutions, client development and strategic consulting. During this period, he also worked on advertising revenue, brand strategy and CRM-based solutions.
At Inshorts, Thakur’s role focused on revenue strategy, mobile and media partnerships, and growth initiatives across platforms. His profile highlights experience in mobile product management, digital business models, partner ecosystems and revenue expansion in high-growth environments.
