Remove objectionable content by Feb 6: Court to 22 sites

Setting a deadline for 22 social networking sites includingFacebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft to remove all "anti-religious"or "anti-social" content, a Delhi court on Saturday directed thecompanies to file compliance reports by February 6.

Additional Civil Judge Mukesh Kumar, who had on December 20in a ex-parte order issued summons to the social networking websites, grantedaround one and half month for compliance of his order.

Out of 22, the representatives of two websites, Yahoo IndiaPvt Ltd and Microsoft, appeared in court and submitted that they have not gotthe copies of court order and complaint against them and pleaded the judge toprovide the same.

Santosh Pandey, counsel appearing for complainant MuftiAijaz Arshad Qasmi, assured the court that he would provide the companies withthe copy of complaint and other related documents.

Pandey, after the court proceedings, told the reporters thatthe websites have to submit a compliance report to the court by February 6detailing what action they have taken to remove the objectionable andderogatory contents from the websites.

The court had on December 20 asked the social networkingwebsites to remove the objectionable content in the form of photographs, videosor text which might hurt religious sentiments.