Delhi High Court Allows Withdrawal of PIL Challenging Jantar Mantar Internet Shutdown

The Software Freedom Law Centre, India (SFLC) filed a public interest litigation in the Delhi High Court seeking to quash six orders issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs that suspended mobile internet services within a 1.5‑kilometre radius of Jantar Mantar between July 17 and July 23. The petition argued that the shutdowns, imposed during student protests over alleged NEET examination irregularities, violated constitutional rights and failed to demonstrate necessity, proportionality, or less‑restrictive alternatives.

On Monday, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya permitted the petitioner to withdraw the PIL. The withdrawal follows the conclusion of the protests, which were called off after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25. The court’s order effectively ends the legal challenge to the internet suspension orders.

The case highlighted concerns about transparency, as the orders were not published, and referenced the Supreme Court’s precedent in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India.