Kashmir Impulse Desk

New Delhi, May 29

The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Union government and social media platform X on a petition filed by Abhijeet Dipke challenging the blocking of the Cockroach Janta Party account on X.

Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav declined to grant immediate interim relief restoring the account, observing that the matter raised “far-reaching issues” and carried wider ramifications that required hearing the Centre’s position first, according to legal news portal Bar & Bench.

The court directed the Centre to file a detailed response within four weeks and listed the matter for hearing on July 6.

It also ordered that the blocking directive be reviewed by the review committee constituted under the rules governing online content blocking in India.

According to the petition, the Centre blocked the satirical collective’s X account under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act following intelligence inputs citing national security concerns.

Counsel appearing for Dipke argued before the court that the account was “pure satire” and sought immediate restoration of the handle.

The court, however, said jurisprudence on such issues was still evolving and declined interim relief at this stage, while allowing the matter to proceed for further hearing.