*

X had argued that India takedown system unconstitutional

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Indian court rules against X, says challenge lacks merit

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Spread of illegal content necessitated new

system-government

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India among biggest markets of X

(Recasts lead, adds context of legal challenge paragraph

2,3,6,8)

By Arpan Chaturvedi and Munsif Vengattil

BENGALURU/NEW DELHI, Sept 24 (Reuters) -

An Indian court on Wednesday ruled there was no merit in X's

legal challenge to quash the country's content removal mechanism

the social media site had

equated with censorship

, saying the platform had a duty of accountability and must

follow local laws.

X-owner Elon Musk, a self-described free-speech

absolutist, has clashed with authorities in several countries

over compliance and content takedown demands, but X's Indian

lawsuit had targeted the entire basis for tightened internet

regulation in the world's most populous nation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has since 2023

ramped up efforts to police the internet by allowing many more

officials to file takedown orders and submit them directly to

tech firms through a government website launched in October.

X had said the measures were unconstitutional and

amounted to censorship.

JUDGE REJECTS X'S CENSORSHIP CLAIMS

"Every platform that seeks to operate within the

jurisdiction of our nation, which they do, must accept that

liberty is yoked with responsibility," Judge M Nagaprasanna said

in dismissing X's case.

A representative for X in India did not immediately

respond to a message seeking comment on the ruling.

The ruling by the high court in the southern state of

Karnataka comes after months of legal wrangling between lawyers

from both sides, including a

remark by X

that every "Tom, Dick, and Harry" government official had

been authorised to issue content takedown orders.

In response, Modi's government had argued the new system

tackled a proliferation of unlawful content and ensured

accountability online.

The government also says many tech companies, including Meta

and Alphabet's Google, support its actions.

It argued that the platform serves as a vehicle for

"spreading hate and division" that threatens social harmony,

while "fake news" on the platform has sparked unspecified

law-and-order issues.

X could appeal Wednesday's ruling, including at the

Supreme Court of India.