Delhi HC Issues Notice on PIL Challenging Delhi Police’s Power to Takedown Online Content

The Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Lieutenant Governor’s office and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by the Software Freedom Law Centre (SFLC).

The PIL challenges a December 2024 notification designating the Delhi Police as the Nodal Agency under the IT Rules, 2021, empowering it to issue takedown notices for online content.

SFLC contends that such authority resides solely with the Central Government under Section 69A of the IT Act, and delegating it to the police is ultra vires and threatens free speech.

The next hearing is scheduled for September 17.