New Delhi, Aug 3 (TNN): The government has asked telecom operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to block 857 porn sites, in an order that is seen as an encroachment into citizens' personal space and their right to view adult content within the confines of their homes.

Users complained that several adult websites, even if they did not have pornographic content, were blocked. They also said the government was using concern over child porn as an excuse to crack down on adult websites and intrude into the private space of citizens.

Sources in the government, however, denied that there was any crackdown. They said denial of access at department of telecom's (DoT) instance was temporary, insisting that it was a prelude to the creation of a regular regulatory oversight.

They said the directive was necessitated by the Supreme Court's observations last month over the home ministry's failure in blocking child pornography on several sites, and claimed that the idea was not to black out or police what people did in their bedrooms.

Telecom company executives said it was not possible to block all the sites immediately. "We have to block each site one by one and it will take a few days for all service providers to block all the sites," said an executive, requesting anonymity.

However, the denials failed to wash with those who pointed to the "prominence of prudes" in the current dispensation to claim that the restrictions could be part of larger drive to cleanse the web of pornography. They also said the SC had, while expressing concern, suggested that a citizen could not be stopped from browsing adult websites within his bedroom.

DoT sources said the government's concerns in the wake of the SC's observations were limited to looking at ways to ensure that there was no public viewing of sites in places such as cyber cafes.

They said the idea was to regulate rather than banish porn -- an objective for which several global models were being studied. "We are very clear that there should be no policing if someone watches porn in private. But there is need to have necessary safeguards against viewing in public or viewing certain types of content, especially when children are involved," said a source.

Sources said the order was issued under provisions of the Information Technology Act as well as Article 19(2) of the Constitution, which empowered the government to impose restrictions to enforce decency or morality, among other things.

Critics emphasized that the SC had not asked for a ban. A bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu had in fact pointed to the freedom enjoyed by individuals. "It is an issue for the government to deal with. Can we pass an interim order directing blocking of all adult websites? And let us keep in mind the possible contention of a person who could ask what crime have I committed by browsing adult websites in private within the four walls of my house. Could he not argue about his right to freedom to do something within the four walls of his house without violating any law?" the bench had said.