Supreme Court Agrees To Hear Petition Against Frequent Internet Shutdowns

The Supreme Court recently consented to hear a petition filed by Software Freedom Law Centre, India (SFLC) challenging Internet Shutdowns in various states across the country.

A bench comprising of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala agreed to take it up after the petitioner distinguished the present petition from the earlier one wherein the internet shutdown in Rajasthan was taken exception to.

It was rejected by the Top Court on the premises that Rajasthan High Court could be approached for the same.

The petitioner has now contended that it is a ‘pan-India issue’. Justice PS Narasimha was not convinced entirely and suggested that the present petition too can be taken to the High Court.

Therefore, the petitioner persuaded the bench stating that they have impleaded various States such as West Bengal, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Arunachal Pradesh and they have a recurrent issue of imposing internet shutdowns when it comes to cheating in exams.

He thus asked the Supreme Court to issue pan-India directions.