A Public Interest Litigation, challenging the Deputy Commissioner’s order of shutting down the internet services in Delhi was dismissed by the Delhi High Court.
The Divisional Bench headed by Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Hari Shankar refused to entertain the plea and observed that the suspension of telecom services was temporary and not in continuation. The court stated that issuing the writ is a privilege of the court and asked the Petitioners to represent before the appropriate authority.
The petition submitted that the Deputy Commissioner was not entitled to pass an order regarding the suspension of telecom services, since he is not the competent authority and stated that the internet shut down will have an adverse effect on various public issues including e-commerce activities, payment of bills, etc.
However, ASG Sanjay Jain appearing for the Central Government asserted that the internet shutdown was temporary and is no longer in continuation and argued that due process was followed by the DCP before issuing the said order.
The Delhi police on 19 December ordered for suspension of telecom services for 4 hours during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests.
