Government reviews decision on porn ban, may put restrictions on websites offering child, hardcore porn

Facing outrage over its decision to ban pornographic websites, the government is reconsidering its decision on the porn ban.

According to sources, a new notification is likely to be issued by the Department of Telecommunication. The ban is now likely to be restricted to child and hardcore porn.

A decision to categorise various porn websites before enforcing the ban was taken during a meeting of the department of telecommunication on Tuesday.

The government has been facing criticism for following a leaked copy of the purported order issued by the Department of Telecommunication, listing 857 websites that had been ordered to be blocked in India.

The Supreme Court had in July declined to block pornography websites in India. Chief Justice of India (CJI) HL Dattu had observed that banning the watching of pornography at home would be a violation of Article 21, the Right to Personal Liberty.