RANJAN GOGOI,J. - (1.) The appellant-B.N. Firos - proprietor of Comtech IT Solutions, Thiruvananthapuram had filed a Writ Petition challenging a Notification dated 27th December, 2002 issued under Section 70(1) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (hereinafter referred to as "I.T. Act") declaring the computer, computer system and computer network specified in the Schedule to the Notification to be "protected systems" under the I.T. Act. The vires of Section 70 of the I.T. Act itself was also challenged. The Writ Petition was dismissed. The said order of dismissal has been affirmed in writ appeal by a Division Bench of the High Court and the review filed there against has also been dismissed. Aggrieved, this appeal(s) has been filed.
(2.) The brief facts that will be required to be noticed are as follows: In the writ/original petition filed by the appellant before the High Court it is stated that the appellant is the proprietor of Comtech IT Solutions, an Information Technology concern which is a member of Microsoft Developer Forum, a professional group of developers technically supported and guided by the Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt. Ltd.
(3.) In the year 1999, the 1st respondent - State of Kerala through the 4th respondent - Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT), Thiruvanthapuram, a Total Solution Provider (TSP), had conceptualized a single window multiple agency bill collection system. The project was called "FRIENDS" (i.e. Fast, Reliable Instant, Efficient, Network for Disbursement of Services). According to the appellant - writ petitioner, Microsoft Corporation of India (Pvt.) ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Microsoft") had offered to provide the Application Software and System Software free of cost for the pilot project. The appellant - writ petitioner, being a member of the Microsoft Developer's Forum, was required by Microsoft to carry out the system study and to develop the pilot project for the "FRIENDS" project.;