Section 72A of ITA, 2000 : Section 72A: Punishment For Disclosure Of Information In Breach Of Lawful Contract

Explanation using Example

Let's consider a hypothetical scenario to understand Section 72A of The Information Technology Act, 2000. Suppose John is an employee at a tech company, XYZ Corp. As part of his job, he has access to a database containing personal information of the company's clients. John is bound by a lawful contract with XYZ Corp. not to disclose any client information without proper authorization.

However, John intentionally discloses some of this information to a competitor company, hoping to gain a job offer. This disclosure is without the consent of the clients and in breach of his contract with XYZ Corp. Here, John has committed an offense under Section 72A of the IT Act, 2000. He can be punished with imprisonment up to three years, or a fine up to five lakh rupees, or both.