What is Information Technology Act?
Posted on: 30/Apr/2019 4:07:34 PM
The ITA or Information Technology Act, 2000 is proposed by the Indian Parliament back on 17th October 2000. It is a law that basically deals with e-commerce as well as cybercrime. It is structured based on UNCITRAL Model Law pertaining to International Commercial Arbitration that are suggested by General Assembly of United Nations.
Back in 2000, the bill was passed during the budget session held. Back then, President K.R. Narayanan had approved the same on 9th May 2000. Group officials under the leadership of Pramod Mahajan, the then Minister of IT.
What is ITA?
Originally, the ITA contained 94 sections. This eventually got split into 13 chapters and 4 different schedules. ITA is applicable across India. In fact, citizens of other nations are also included in this law in cases where they are involved in computer or networks in India.
The main purpose of the law is to create legal framework. It legally governs all the electronic transactions and records and digital signatures.
This Act also brought some changes in various sections of Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Banker’s Book Evidence Act, 1891, and also Indian Evidence Act, 1872 such that they are compliant with the ITA Act.
Section 65 of ITA act – it states that when an individuals either consciously or intentionally make any change or destroy or alter any kind of computer source code that is kept for computer system or its use, which is supposed to be maintained confidentially, such individuals will be punished with 3 years of imprisonment or fined up to Rs 2,00,000. Similarly there are multiple sessions addressing the many different crimes and their respective legal actions.
