New Delhi, April 15: The Supreme Court today sought the Centre’s response on a PIL that seeks a ban on pornographic sites and mentions the Delhi gang rape to argue they “corrupted” children’s minds and fuelled crimes against women.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir initially expressed reluctance to take cognisance of the plea, saying the authorities should be approached, but relented after the petitioner’s lawyer persisted and said such pornography even taught the viewers “how to rape”.

The Union ministries of home, information and broadcasting, and information technology have been asked to respond within four weeks.

“There is a provision (IT Act). What can we do? Murder is an offence but can we stop it?” Justice Kabir observed. Justice Vikramjit Sen, another of the judges, said parents could restrict access to children by giving specific commands to their computers.

The petitioner then argued that the Information Technology Act, 2000, though amended often to keep pace with changes, was not capable of tackling pornography. “The sexual content kids are accessing is far more violent and destructive. Most of the offences committed against women/girls/children are fuelled by pornography.”