Many websites like Vimeo.com, pastebin.com and thepiratebay.se have been blocked in India for nearly a month now. The message shown on trying to access the blocked sites on the Airtel network is "This website/URL has been blocked until further notice either pursuant to Court orders or on the Directions issued by the Department of Telecommunications". Intrigued by this message which does not specify the reason for the block, SFLC.in filed an application under the Right to Information Act on May 14, 2012 to the Department of Telecommunications(DOT). We requested the information as to whether any orders have been issued by the DOT for blocking such websites.

We have received a response today from the DOT which states that "As per available information no blocking instruction to block websites like Pirate-bay and Vimeo etc. has been issued by the Department of Telecommunications to Internet Service Providers (sic)".News reportssuggest that these blocks have been carried out to comply with interim injunctions styled as John Doe orders issued by the Chennai High Court in a suit filed by the producers of the Tamil movie "3".

Watch this space for more information as the internet users continue to ask "Why this kolaveri di..."