India, July 17 -- The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Centre to file its response by July 29 to a petition filed by stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra challenging the constitutional validity of the government's Sahyog portal and the amended Information Technology (IT) Rules, which he claims give authorities sweeping powers to order the takedown of online content.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad also directed Kamra to file his rejoinder by August 6 and posted the matter for further hearing on August 14.

Kamra's counsel, senior advocate Navroz Seervai, told the court that the petition had been pending since February and that despite repeated directions, the Centre had not yet filed i...