Cyber Appellate Tribunal Website Still Live Years After Closure; Shut Down Ordered Within 7 Days
The Central Information Commission (CIC) has directed that the website of the Cyber Appellate Tribunal, which remained active years after its closure, be shut down within seven days. The order came during a hearing of an appeal filed by Aditya Vilak Kaklij, who had sought information regarding the freezing of bank accounts linked to cyber crime cases.
The Cyber Appellate Tribunal was established under the Information Technology Act, 2000, to hear appeals against orders of the Adjudicating Officer. However, the tribunal ceased operations years ago, yet its website continued to function, misleading citizens and officials alike. The CIC noted that the continued presence of the website caused confusion and was a waste of public resources.
During the proceedings, the CIC observed that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had failed to take timely action to remove the site. The commission emphasized that maintaining a defunct tribunal's website was not only improper but also potentially harmful, as it could be misused by cyber criminals to impersonate the tribunal.
The petitioner, Aditya Vilak Kaklij, had approached the CIC after his request for information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act was not adequately addressed. He sought details about the freezing of bank accounts in cyber crime cases, which led to the discovery that the appellate tribunal's website was still operational despite its closure.
The CIC directed the MeitY to ensure the website is taken down within seven days and submit a compliance report. The order highlights the need for government agencies to regularly audit and update their online presence to avoid such lapses.
This case underscores the importance of robust digital governance and the role of transparency bodies like the CIC in holding authorities accountable. The petitioner's persistence not only exposed a glaring oversight but also prompted corrective action that could prevent future misuse.
