The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Union government and social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on a petition filed by Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke challenging the blocking of the organisation’s X account under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, on grounds of alleged national security concerns.
The single-judge Bench of Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, however, declined to grant interim relief directing immediate restoration of the account, observing that the matter involved wider ramifications concerning intermediary liability, online speech, national security and the statutory blocking framework governing digital platforms.
The Court observed that the issues raised in the petition required comprehensive consideration after hearing the Union Government and the intermediary platform concerned. Accordingly, notice was issued to the respondents directing them to file a detailed reply within four weeks. The matter has now been listed for further hearing on July 6, 2026.
The Court further directed that the statutory Review Committee constituted under the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009 examine the blocking order and place its decision on record. The Bench noted that the Rules contemplate periodic review of blocking directions and observed that the Review Committee is empowered to examine all aspects relating to legality, proportionality and necessity of such orders.
The Court also observed that since the petitioner presently resides in Boston, United States, he may request permission to appear before the Review Committee through video conferencing.
The petition challenges the blocking order issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), which reportedly directed X to withhold access to the CJP account following intelligence inputs said to involve national security concerns. The blocking direction was reportedly issued under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking for Access of Information by Public) Rules, 2009.
The plea has been filed through Advocate Nakul Gandhi of NG Law Chambers.
During the hearing, Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Dipke, sought interim restoration of the X account pending adjudication of the writ petition. It was argued that Cockroach Janta Party functioned primarily as a satirical and political commentary platform and that less restrictive alternatives, including selective blocking of specific posts, could have been considered instead of disabling the entire account.
The Court, however, observed that the jurisprudence governing blocking orders and intermediary obligations in such cases was still evolving and held that interim directions could not be issued without hearing the Union Government. The Bench also noted that neither the petitioner nor the Court had yet been provided access to the blocking order itself and observed that questions concerning disclosure and confidentiality of blocking directions could be considered at a later stage.
The Court further indicated that the present matter appeared distinguishable from earlier cases where interim restoration of social media accounts had been granted, observing that the allegations in the present case potentially involved broader concerns regarding the nature and impact of the online activity itself.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union Government, sought to make submissions during the hearing. The Court, however, clarified that no interim adjudication on merits would be undertaken before hearing all parties and examining the official record, including the blocking order if necessary.
Cockroach Janta Party emerged earlier this month as a satirical online movement that gained substantial traction across social media platforms through content relating to unemployment, institutional accountability, media freedom and public discourse.
The online collective traces its origins to oral observations made during proceedings before the Supreme Court on May 15, 2026, when a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed concern over unemployed young professionals shifting towards social media activity and RTI-related activism. The Chief Justice later clarified that the remarks were directed against individuals allegedly entering professions through forged qualifications and fake degrees, and not against unemployed youth generally.
Along with Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, Advocates Vrinda Grover, Nakul Gandhi, Gurdeep Singh, Siddhi Sahoo, Krishnesh Bapat, Jahnavi Sindhu and Aditya Raj Patodia appeared for the petitioner.
The Union Government was represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma, Advocate Rajat Nair and Central Government Standing Counsel Avshreya Rudy.
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