High Court Notes MEITY SOP, Closes Plea
The Madras High Court on October 23, 2025, closed a plea filed by a young woman lawyer seeking removal of intimate photos and videos that her former partner allegedly uploaded online without consent.
Justice M. Dhandapani took note of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) submitted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), providing a clear procedure for curtailing the dissemination of non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII).
The petitioner was directed to approach authorities under the SOP to remove any further images or videos, and the plea was closed.
Background of the Petition
The lawyer had filed a petition seeking directions for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to act upon her representation and take all necessary measures to block and remove NCII posted by her former partner.
Previously, the Court had asked MEITY to take down all such content within 48 hours, and also sought clarification on the steps available to victims of NCII.
SOP Guidance on Removal of NCII
The SOP provides detailed guidance for individuals seeking removal of intimate content online:
One Stop Centres (OSCs)
- Assist victims with filing complaints via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP).
- Provide legal and psychological counseling.
- Help individuals file complaints with law enforcement or secure legal assistance through the District Legal Services Authority.
Intermediaries (Social Media Platforms)
- Remove or disable access to flagged content within 24 hours of reporting, in line with IT Rules, 2021.
- Deploy crawler technology to detect and remove similar content across URLs.
- De-index content from search results and provide periodic updates to the complainant.
National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP)
- Take action against NCII as per SOP, including issuing notices for expeditious removal under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
- Ensure removal within 24 hours of reporting.
Law Enforcement Agencies
- Report flagged content on the NCRP and Sahyog portal.
- Register a complaint at the victim’s request.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Coordinate with internet service providers to block access to flagged URLs.
- MEITY coordinates with intermediaries and stakeholders to ensure timely compliance.
Court’s Decision
The Court observed that the MEITY SOP provides a comprehensive mechanism for victims to seek removal of intimate content online. Consequently, it closed the petition, directing the petitioner to follow the SOP procedures to address any further dissemination.
Case Details
- Case Title: X v. Union of India
- Case No.: WP 25017 of 2025
- Court: Madras High Court
- Bench: Justice M. Dhandapani
- Counsel for Petitioner: Mr. Abdu Kumar Rajaratnam, Senior Counsel for Mr. Rajagopal Vasudevan
- Counsel for Respondents: Mr. A. Kumaraguru, Special Panel Counsel; Mr. E. Raj Thilak, Additional Public Prosecutor; Mr. S. Balaji, Govt. Advocate (Crl. Side)
