The Supreme Court on Monday expressed concern on being told that more than 1,000 cases have been filed invoking Section 66A of the IT Act - a controversial law that allowed authorities to arrest individuals for posting "offensive" content online - despite it being struck down seven years ago.

"It is shocking. We will issue notice," a three-member bench of Justices R Nariman, KM Joseph and BR Gavai said, according to NDTV.com. Justice Nariman added: "Amazing. What is going on is terrible."

The court was hearing a plea by an NGO - the People Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) - seeking directions to the centre to advise all police stations against registering FIRs under this law.

Sec 66A was struck down on March 24, 2014, after it was first challenged by a law student named Shreya Singhal; this was after two young women were arrested in Mumbai in 2012 for posting comments critical of the total shutdown in the city after the death of Shiv Sena