In today’s hearing, the SC allowed Facebook’s transfer petition in Antony Clement Rubin v. Union of India after the Tamil Nadu Government withdrew its objections to the transfer.
At today’s hearing, the Government cited national security concerns and objected to the Petitioner’s and the Intervenors’ demand for disclosure of orders issued under the Telecom Suspension Rules.
In today’s hearing, the Supreme Court emphasized that technical and complex issues such as encryption are best addressed by the executive branch and it directed the Central Government to file an affidavit about the status of the Draft Intermediaries Guidelines Rules.
In today’s hearing, the SC wondered if the 40 day long suspension of telecom and internet services in Kashmir was a shutdown or breakdown. It finally directed the Govt. to file its response to the writ petition and intervention applications and urged selective restoration of communication channels.
The Petition argues that the communication shutdown violates Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution. The legal basis for the communication shutdown still remains unknown and the interim prayer seeks transparency.