Today, stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra approached the Bombay High Court challenging the Sahyog Portal and a 2025 amendment to the IT Rules, claiming that they allow arbitrary and unlawful blocking of online content.

In his writ petition, Kamra has named the Union government, the Ministry of Law and Justice, and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) as respondents. The Sahyog Portal was created by MeitY in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Kamra has argued that the Sahyog Portal creates a separate system for blocking online content, bypassing the safeguards under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act. He said that content can be blocked only through Section 69A, which requires prior notice, a hearing, and a reasoned order—protections that are missing under the new framework.

He has also challenged the 2025 amendment to Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT Rules, stating that it goes beyond the IT Act. According to Kamra, Section 79 of the Act only provides safe-harbour protection to intermediaries and does not give the government independent power to order content blocking.

The plea states that the Sahyog Portal allows thousands of central and state government officials to issue takedown or blocking orders without notice, reasons, or oversight. Kamra has argued that this is contrary to the review process under the Blocking Rules and that MeitY has no authority to delegate such powers to state governments or local police officers.

Kamra has alleged that the portal is arbitrary, violates principles of natural justice, and breaches Article 14 of the Constitution. He has also claimed that it has a chilling effect on free speech, leading to self-censorship, especially when social media platforms suspend or disable accounts following takedown directions.

The petition also argues that the framework violates Kamra’s right to practise his profession under Article 19(1)(g), as his work as a comedian and commentator depends on digital platforms.

According to Kamra, the cause of action arose in October 2024, when the Sahyog Portal became operational, and continued after the 2025 amendment came into force. He has sought interim relief to restrain authorities from issuing or enforcing takedown orders through the portal until the case is finally decided.

The matter was mentioned before the court today and is scheduled to be heard on March 16.

Kamra has relied on his earlier challenge to the 2023 IT Rules amendment on government fact-checking, which was eventually struck down by the Bombay High Court as unconstitutional. He has argued that the Sahyog Portal and the 2025 amendment similarly create an unlawful parallel system for blocking online content outside the framework upheld by the Supreme Court.