Court rejects petition to ban Google Earth

Chennai: The Madras high court has rejected a PIL filed by a retired police officer demanding a “total or partial ban” on Google Earth. The Bench comprising the acting chief justice S J Mukhopadhaya and Justice V Dhanapalan disposed of the petition of J Mohanraj after observing that judges were not experts, and the petitioner should move an appropriate forum for remedy. In his submissions, Manikandan, counsel for the petitioner, said Google Earth mapped the terrain of India up to 200 metres in contravention of the National Mapping Policy and the National Security Act. The Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Survey of India are the only two authorities responsible for mapping the country, he said. The judges, however, said that since there were a forum created under the TRAI Act 1997, besides Parliament and legislature, to take appropriate decisions on national security, it would be desirable to leave the matter to those forums. They shall make an appropriate law in this regard, the Bench said and disposed of the petition.

"Loved reading this piece by G. ARAVINTHAN?
Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!"

Join our Telegram group

Join our Whatsapp group