Meta Platforms, which operates Facebook and Instagram, has informed the Delhi High Court that the Facebook page of Srinagar Member of Parliament (MP), Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, was blocked following a directive from law enforcement agencies. This disclosure was made during a hearing presided over by Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, where Mehdi is contesting the restrictions imposed on his access to his Facebook page.
Law Enforcement Notice and Court Proceedings
During the proceedings, Meta’s counsel stated that the page was taken down in response to a law enforcement notice. The counsel requested additional time to present the order to the court. Mehdi’s legal representative argued that no information was provided regarding the specific content deemed offensive on the Facebook page.
“Nobody has specified what the offending material was on my page,” Mehdi’s counsel argued, highlighting his roles as both an MP and a religious leader. Justice Sharma granted Meta time to file a detailed reply, scheduling the next hearing for September 20.
Ruhullah Mehdi’s Legal Challenge
Ruhullah Mehdi, a member of the National Conference and an MP from the Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency, filed a petition against the restriction imposed on his Facebook page in India since March 3, 2026. According to Mehdi’s plea, he discovered the restriction only when he attempted to access his page on that date. His petition claims neither the government nor Meta provided a copy of the notice, a rationale for the action, or an opportunity for him to be heard.
The petition argues that Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, does not authorize the blanket restriction of an entire account without identifying specific unlawful content and adhering to safeguards outlined in the Information Technology Rules, 2021. Mehdi contends that this restriction violates his fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(a), and 21 of the Indian Constitution and hinders his ability to communicate with constituents and engage in democratic discourse.
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The petition was filed with legal representation from advocates Tamanna Pankaj, Archit Krishna, Priya Vats, Ashutosh Shukla, and Harshil Jain.
