Online Safety Bill can be passed with simple majority subject to amendments - SC

The Supreme Court has determined that the Online Safety Bill can be passed with a simple majority in Parliament subject to amendments to several clauses at the Committee Stage, Deputy Speaker Ajith Rajapakse informed Parliament a short while ago. 

A three-judge bench comprising Justices Priyantha Jayawardena Shiran Gooneratne and Achala Wengappuli determined in its ruling that Clauses 3,5,7,9, 11,12,73,74,75,16,17,18,79,20,27,22,23,25,26,27,28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 42, 45, 53 and 56 should be passed by a special majority in Parliament as required by Article 84(2) of the Constitution.

However, if the above clauses are amended during the Committee Stage, the Bill can be passed by a simple Parliamentary majority, the Supreme Court has further noted.

The Justices have stressed that they have examined the provisions of the Bill and are of the opinion that subject to the above, none of the provisions in the Bill are inconsistent with the Constitution. Therefore, the Bill can be passed by a simple majority in Parliament, subject to the amendments stated by Court. 

A total of 45 petitions were filed before the Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of the Online Safety Bill.