Facebook: law and order in Delhi falls within the domain of the Central government.

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On Tuesday Facebook India skipped a hearing of the Delhi Assembly's Peace and Harmony committee and the company saying that they have already given testimony before a Parliamentary Standing Committee earlier this month and asked that the summon be withdrawn. In a letter to the committee Facebook said that the regulation of intermediaries like Facebook falls within the authority of the Central government. The subject of law and order in Delhi falls within the domain of the Central government.

Delhi Assembly's panel on Peace and Harmony had earlier summoned Ajit Mohan, Vice President and Managing Director of Facebook India citing complaints alleging deliberate inaction by Facebook to apply hate speech rules which allegedly led to the disruption of peace across Delhi. The summon was issued in connection with complaints about the social media platform's alleged deliberate and intentional inaction to contain hateful content in the country.

Ignoring the summons, Facebook India wrote to the Delhi panel ad said Parliament's Standing Committee on Information Technology is examining issues raised in the notice as a part of its inquiry into safeguarding citizen's rights. The regulation of intermediaries like Facebook fall within the exclusive authority of the Union of India. Given that the matters are under consideration by Parliament, we object to the notice and request you recall it.

Raghav Chadha, who heads the Delhi Assembly's 'Peace and Harmony' Committee, said Facebook's letter is in disregard of the committee's privilege.and a fresh summons will be issued. Facebook's refusal to appear before the committee is an attempt to conceal crucial facts in relation to its role in the Delhi riots. A fresh summons will be issued to it in line with principles of natural justice.