How to Send an IT Act Notice
in India
A legal step-by-step guide for individuals and businesses across India. Only legally trained professionals can draft effective IT Act notices. Errors in the notice — wrong section, missing legal citations — allow platforms to reject without action.
The legal process.
Identify the correct section: Section 79 (intermediary liability) read with the IT Rules 2021 is the route for private complaints; Section 69A blocking is a government power, not a private remedy.
Identify the platform's India Grievance Officer: all major platforms must appoint one under IT Rules 2021.
Draft the notice: formally identify the content, state the specific legal violation, and demand removal by a stated deadline, citing the platform grievance duties under the IT Rules 2021.
Serve the notice: via registered email + physical delivery to the Grievance Officer address. The partner law firm serves it on the client's behalf.
Follow up and escalate: if the platform misses its statutory deadline (two hours for intimate images or impersonation of a person under Rule 3(2)(b); 36 hours for other listed content such as privacy violations or impersonating a business; seven days otherwise, which is where defamation sits), appeal to the Grievance Appellate Committee or seek a court order.