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The Centre on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that ambit of the Information Technology laws may be widened to curb the menace of exposing people, especially children, to pornographic material in cyber cafes.
Definition of certain rules governing the issue might be widened both for viewers and owners who have a copyright on prohibited material fed on internet, government counsel U Hazarika told a bench comprising Chief Justice Arijit Passayat and Justice D K Jain.
"Suggestions have been received from public, which favour a compulsory licence and policing of the cyber cafes and make viewing of undesirable sites as a punishable offence and the same are being examined by the government," he said.
He said a Committee of Secretaries, which had sought suggestions from public to formulate guidelines accordingly, was examining the matter.
The government counsel made the submission during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation seeking laws to regulate cyber cafes.
The court said under the existing laws, action can be taken against the owner or publisher of objectionable material but there is no provision for punishing the readers or viewers.
Hazarika sought further time to place before the court the government's clear stand on the issue as various ministries were involved.
The hearing was adjourned to August 31.
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