India, Nov. 28 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday emphasised the need for an "effective" mechanism to regulate user-generated content and a stronger, independent oversight body, directing the Centre to draft guidelines within four weeks after public consultations.

The court said regulations are not meant to "throttle" anyone but to create a "sieve," noting the legal gap that provides no accountability for content uploaded on online platforms.

"This is something very strange that I create my own platform and channel but there is no accountability. There must be a sense of responsibility attached to such content," said a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and justice Joymalya Bagchi.

The suggestion reopens the fundamental ten...