Stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra has approached the Bombay High Court challenging the Sahyog Portal, which the government says enables automated and centralised issuance of content removal notices to digital intermediaries such as X, YouTube and Facebook. The portal is used by authorised agencies across India to seek the takedown of content deemed unlawful.
What is the Sahyog Portal?
The Sahyog Portal was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs to speed up the process of issuing notices to IT intermediaries by the appropriate government or its agencies. These notices are sent under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and are aimed at facilitating the removal or disabling of access to any information, data or communication link allegedly being used to commit an unlawful act.
The portal is operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and is not managed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
According to its official website, the portal’s vision is to “create a safe cyber space for the citizens of India.” Its stated mission is to build an effective framework and ecosystem for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrime across the country.
The government has said Sahyog was designed to streamline and automate the process through which authorised agencies issue takedown requests to digital platforms under the IT Act. By bringing government authorities and intermediaries onto a single platform, the portal aims to ensure faster action against online content flagged as illegal. It specifically facilitates compliance-related notices linked to intermediary liability under Section 79 of the law.
Why has Kunal Kamra challenged it?
In his petition, Kamra has challenged both the Sahyog Portal and amendments made to the IT Rules in October 2025. He argues that these changes allow Central and state government officials to issue takedown or blocking orders without following the detailed procedures laid down under the IT Act.
The plea contends that Rule 3(1)(d) of the amended IT Rules, read along with the Sahyog Portal, is unconstitutional as it permits blocking or removal of online content on vague and undefined grounds. Kamra has argued that this amounts to an unreasonable restriction on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
He has further claimed that the powers granted under the new framework go beyond the limits permitted under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, which exhaustively lists the grounds on which free speech can be restricted. The petition also warns that the mechanism leaves online content vulnerable to arbitrary takedowns, without providing users or creators any effective remedy or appeal process.
According to Kamra, the framework effectively grants unchecked authority to a large number of government officials at both the Centre and state levels. The matter is expected to be heard by the Bombay High Court in the coming days.
What is the Sahyog Portal?
The Sahyog Portal was launched in 2024 by the Ministry of Home Affairs to speed up the process of issuing notices to IT intermediaries by the appropriate government or its agencies. These notices are sent under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and are aimed at facilitating the removal or disabling of access to any information, data or communication link allegedly being used to commit an unlawful act.The portal is operated by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre and is not managed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
According to its official website, the portal’s vision is to “create a safe cyber space for the citizens of India.” Its stated mission is to build an effective framework and ecosystem for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrime across the country.
The government has said Sahyog was designed to streamline and automate the process through which authorised agencies issue takedown requests to digital platforms under the IT Act. By bringing government authorities and intermediaries onto a single platform, the portal aims to ensure faster action against online content flagged as illegal. It specifically facilitates compliance-related notices linked to intermediary liability under Section 79 of the law.
Why has Kunal Kamra challenged it?
In his petition, Kamra has challenged both the Sahyog Portal and amendments made to the IT Rules in October 2025. He argues that these changes allow Central and state government officials to issue takedown or blocking orders without following the detailed procedures laid down under the IT Act.The plea contends that Rule 3(1)(d) of the amended IT Rules, read along with the Sahyog Portal, is unconstitutional as it permits blocking or removal of online content on vague and undefined grounds. Kamra has argued that this amounts to an unreasonable restriction on the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
He has further claimed that the powers granted under the new framework go beyond the limits permitted under Article 19(2) of the Constitution, which exhaustively lists the grounds on which free speech can be restricted. The petition also warns that the mechanism leaves online content vulnerable to arbitrary takedowns, without providing users or creators any effective remedy or appeal process.
According to Kamra, the framework effectively grants unchecked authority to a large number of government officials at both the Centre and state levels. The matter is expected to be heard by the Bombay High Court in the coming days.
