Information Technology Act
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The Information Technology Act 2000 (ITA-2000) is an Act of the Indian Parliament (No 21 of 2000) notified on October 17, 2000.
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[edit] History of the Act
The United Nations General Assembly by resolution A/RES/51/162, dated the 30 January 1997 has adopted the Model Law on Electronic Commerce adopted by the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. This is referred to as the UNCITRAL Model Law on E-Commerce.
The said resolution recommended inter alia that all States give favorable consideration to the said Model Law when they enact or revise their laws, in view of the need for uniformity of the law applicable to alternatives to paper-based methods of communication and storage of information.
The Ministry of Commerce Government of India created the first draft of the legislation following the UNO termed as "E Commerce Act 1998".
After the formation of a separate ministry of Information Technology, the draft was taken over by the new ministry which re-drafted the legislation as "Information Technology Bill 1999".
This draft was placed in the Parliament in December 1999 and passed in May 2000. After the assent of the President on June 9, 2000, the act was finally notified with effect from October 17, 2000 vide notification number G.S.R 788(E).
A major amendment was made to the Act with effect from 6th February 2003 consequent to the passage of a related legislation called Negotiable Instruments Amendment Act 2002.
[edit] Specifics of the Act
Information technology Act 2000 consists of 94 sections segregated into 13 chapters. Four schedules form part of the Act.
[edit] Essence of the Act
Information Technology Act 2000 addressed the following issues:
- Legal Recognition of Electronic Documents
- Legal Recognition of Digital Signatures
- Offenses and Contraventions
- Justice Dispensation System for Cybercrimes
[edit] Latest developments
The Government of India has proposed major amendments to ITA-2000 which have been passed by the Cabinet Committee of the Government of India and are ready for being placed before the Indian Parliament for discussion.
[edit] References
- Ministry of Communications and Technology, Government of India [1]
- Information Technology Act 2000 Online
