New Delhi: The Indian government told the Supreme Court on Tuesday that it has reached out to state officials to ensure they follow the rules about shutting down the internet. This decision comes after a court case involving Anuradha Bhasin. In that case, the Supreme Court decided that shutting down the internet without a clear reason is illegal, and any shutdown should be necessary and fair.
On Tuesday, the court heard complaints that some states were shutting down the internet to stop cheating in exams. The government’s lawyer stated that they have sent letters to state leaders, reminding them of the Anuradha Bhasin decision and asking them to stick to these rules. They emphasized that internet shutdowns must only happen for valid reasons.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the person who filed the complaint, highlighted that there are other ways to prevent cheating and pointed out how internet shutdowns harm businesses in the digital world. She reminded the court that the Anuradha Bhasin ruling clearly outlines when internet shutdowns are legally allowed.
The Centre’s lawyer mentioned that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta would represent the government in this case. The court postponed the next hearing to January 29, giving both sides time to submit more documents and evidence before then. Previously, on September 9, 2022, the Supreme Court had asked the Ministry of Communications if there were any set procedures for dealing with complaints like the one raised by the petitioner.
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