In a repeat of its 2015 order, the Centre’s Narendra Modi government on Wednesday directed internet service providers to block 827 pornographic websites. In 2015, the government was forced to partially lift the ban. However, its fresh order has come in the wake of the Uttarakhand High Court’s instruction to ban 857 porn websites.



According to a report by PTI, Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) found 30 portals without any porn content.

“… all the internet service licensees are instructed to take immediate necessary action for blocking of 827 websites as per the direction from Meity and for the compliance of the Hon’ble High Court order,” PTI quoted the Department of Telecom’s order issued to internet service providers.

Meity informed the DoT that the Uttarakhand High Court has ordered for blocking 857 websites contained in an old notice of DoT dated 31 July, 2015.

In 2015, the government had partially withdrawn its order banning 857 porn sites after huge outrage on social media. IT and Telecom Minister Ravishankar Prasad had told a TV channel that the ban will be eligible only for child pornography websites.

Last month, the Uttarakhand High Court had asked the Centre to ensure the strict implementation of the ban on porn sites. This was after the court took cognisance of reports that a girl was gangraped in a Dehradun school by her fellow students after they watched porn clips.

On 18 September, Janta Ka Reporter had reported how a class 10 student was gang-raped in a Dehradun boarding school and made pregnant by her seniors. According to some media reports, the accused boys had later told the police during investigation that they had watched porn on the Internet before allegedly raping the girl.

The Uttarakhand High Court directed Internet Service Providers to strictly obey a notification issued by the Centre three years ago for a ban on porn sites. A report by news agency PTI said that the High Court also asked them to block publication or transmission of obscene material in any electronic form, transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act or conduct and also publishing or transmitting material depicting children in sexually explicit act or conduct forthwith.