--- title: "Section 66A IT Act: Shreya Singhal Case | Model Diplomat" description: "Section 66A of the IT Act criminalised offensive online messages until the Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional in the Shreya Singhal case." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/section-66a-it-act" --- [New](https://modeldiplomat.com/) # Model Diplomat Research Team · Last reviewed June 22, 2026 TL;DR - Section 66A of India's Information Technology Act, 2000 criminalised sending offensive or menacing electronic messages until the Supreme Court struck it down in 2015 as unconstitutional. - On what constitutional ground did the Supreme Court strike down Section 66A? - Why do police still register cases under Section 66A despite it being struck down? - Did Shreya Singhal also affect Sections 69A and 79 of the IT Act? - What legal provisions now cover online offensive content after 66A's repeal? [Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services/glossary)Updated June 22, 2026 Go beyond the definition ## Research Section 66A of the IT Act (Shreya Singhal case) like a delegate Model Diplomat's AI drafts position papers, speeches, and country research with real sources — built for MUN and politics students. ## Timeline 1. 5 February 2009 Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 was inserted by the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, which received presidential assent on… 2. 27 October 2009 Section 66A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 was inserted by the Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008, which received presidential assent on 5… 3. 26 November 2008 The 2008 amendment was a legislative response to the rising volume of cyber-offences and was drafted in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks, when Par… 4. 24 March 2015 167 of 2012), decided on , a bench of Justices J. ## Research it like a delegate Research on modeldiplomat.com ## Ask a follow-up about Section 66A of the IT Act (Shreya Singhal case) Open a cited briefing in Model Diplomat search — timelines, positions, and sources you can use in committee or exam answers. [Start research on Section 66A of the IT Act (Shreya Singhal case)](https://modeldiplomat.com/search?q=Explain%20Section%2066A%20of%20the%20IT%20Act%20\(Shreya%20Singhal%20case\)%20%E2%80%94%20key%20dates%2C%20actors%2C%20positions%2C%20and%20sources) Example In November 2012, Maharashtra police arrested Shaheen Dhada and Rinu Srinivasan in Palghar under Section 66A after a Facebook post questioning the shutdown following Bal Thackeray's death, sparking the litigation that voided the provision. Keep learning ## Go deeper than the definition [Explore all Civil Service & Diplomatic Exams lessons](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/civil-services)[Test yourself with a quiz](https://modeldiplomat.com/learn/glossary/quiz/civil-services) ## Take Section 66A of the IT Act (Shreya Singhal case) beyond the glossary Ask the AI research engine built for diplomacy — get briefings, position papers, and speeches with sources you can cite in committee.