IIPM row: Gwalior court first blocked, now unblocked URLs

, March 1: First, it was a

in Gwalior which ordered the blocking of around 70 URLs or web-pages which were critical of Indian

of Planning & Management (IIPM) and its works. Now, media reports say the same court in Gwalior has asked to

on Thursday, Feb 28.

Government on Thursday challenged the Gwalior court's order of blocking 78 webpages, of which 73 had articles critical of the IIPM and its director Arindam Chaudhuri.

After Chaudhuri approached a court in Gwalior, the court order asked Internet service providers (ISPs) to prevent access to more than 73 URLs (including University Grants Commission), which are critical of IIPM and its works.

After the initial order of the court, India's Department of Telecommunications issued instructions to Internet Service Licensees to block access to 78 URLs from India, and the list contains 73 URLs which are anti-IIPM. The order was signed by Subodh Saxena of the DoT.

The blocking of URLs led to the blocking of a web-page on the website of the University Grants Commission (UGC). The page carried a warning that IIPM is not recognized as a university and cannot confer degrees on students.

The entire episode of blocking of URLs is unprecedented. Government received severe criticism for its move to block the URLs. Many termed it as gag on freedom of speech and expression. Social networking sites were abuzz with posts on government's move to block anti-IIPM URLs.

#IIPM was the trending topic on Twitter. Twitter users had slammed the blocking. Even all the main national newspapers wrote critical pieces on blocking of URLs.

OneIndia News