New Delhi: A division bench of Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a plea challenging Delhi Police’s step for partially suspending telecom services in parts of city on December 18, in its effort to control law and order and to protect citizen amid tensed situation due to protest happening against Citizenship Amendment Act.
The bench comprising of two judges, Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Harishankar dismissed the plea observing that the Internet services were halted hardly for few hours, between 9 am to 1 am.
“We see no reason to entertain the writ petition,” the bench said.
The petitioner (Software Freedom Law Center) challenged Delhi Police’s direction in the court on two grounds - the senior police official issued the direction in this regard was not competent authority and bill payments, and the shutdown had impacted e-commerce activities, startups’ operations etc.
The petitioner tried to strengthen more to the plea citing an order of Gauhati High Court on December 19 where the bench of Justices noted that telecom services may be suspended during emergencies.
As per the reports, the direction to suspend internet services was issued by DCP Special Cell Pramod Singh Kushwaha, observing the kind of rumors being spread making the people panic. The direction was to suspend voice calls, SMS and Internet services in parts of Delhi on December 18.
