Where does the law stand on internet shutdowns?
Supreme Court precedent, Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the 2024 suspension rules shape India’s law on internet shutdowns after the Central Delhi disruption during the 'Chalo Sansad' protest.
- India’s shutdown orders are now expected to follow the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the Telecommunications Suspension Rules, 2024, not telegraph-era practice.
- The Anuradha Bhasin ruling makes proportionality and limited duration central to the legality of internet shutdowns.
India’s law on internet shutdowns is now a test of constitutional rights, administrative proportionality, and public-order powers. The Central Delhi suspension during the 'Chalo Sansad' protest has revived scrutiny of when the State can block internet access and what procedural safeguards must follow.
What happened
Mobile internet services were shut down in parts of Central Delhi on July 20, the opening day of the Parliament Monsoon Session, and remained in force until the evening. The shutdown followed protests linked to demands including the resignation of the Union Education Minister after allegations of NEET-related paper leaks and CBSE exam irregularities.
UPSC can frame the issue around the legality of internet suspensions, the Supreme Court's proportionality standard in Anuradha Bhasin, and the tension between public order and speech, trade, and access to information. A mains answer can also examine whether statutory safeguards under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 are being followed in practice.
