The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the suspension of mobile internet services around Jantar Mantar during student protests has been withdrawn from the Delhi High Court. This development follows the conclusion of the protests on July 25, after the resignation of then-Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC) had filed the petition, which was scheduled for a hearing before the Bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia. The PIL sought to annul six suspension orders issued by the Union Home Affairs Ministry (MHA) between July 17 and July 23, arguing that they were unconstitutional and violated Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. It also called for the mandatory publication of all future internet suspension orders.
According to the petition, the MHA invoked Section 20(2)(b) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, as well as the Telecommunications (Temporary Suspension of Services) Rules, 2024, to suspend mobile internet services within a 1.5-kilometer radius of Jantar Mantar. The PIL argued that the orders merely repeated the statutory terms “public safety” and “public emergency” without providing concrete evidence or justification for a complete internet shutdown.
The petition further contended that the authorities did not consider less intrusive alternatives, such as enhanced policing, crowd-control measures, or targeted interventions. It also claimed that the orders were issued by an under-secretary rather than the designated competent authority as required by the suspension rules.
Despite these arguments, the matter has now been withdrawn. Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves represented the petitioner, and the petition was filed through advocates Jayant Malik and Nishant Shokeen.
