New Delhi, October 15: Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology to the Supreme Court in a contempt case concerning the alleged violation of the court’s directions on maintaining Metro and train services in Delhi during a protest on October 10.
The contempt petition relates to allegations that authorities violated the Supreme Court’s order against imposing a complete suspension of Metro and train services in the national capital in connection with a protest called by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP).
In an affidavit submitted to the apex court, Mohan said Delhi Police had requested the suspension of cellular internet services for 24 hours, until 10 pm on October 10. He stated that the request was examined and approved in accordance with the law, considering the scale of the situation and the need to maintain public order.
According to the affidavit, cellular internet services were suspended from 10 pm on October 9 until 10 pm on October 10 within a four-kilometre radius of Raisina Hill.
The Home Secretary clarified that the restriction applied only to cellular internet services and did not extend to Wi-Fi, broadband or other non-cellular communication services.
Mohan submitted that temporary internet suspensions within a defined geographical area could be considered a lawful and proportionate measure to maintain public order, provided the applicable legal safeguards were followed.
He has requested the Supreme Court to modify its October 11 order to the extent necessary to permit internet suspensions in situations where they are considered necessary, subject to statutory requirements and safeguards.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday.
On October 11, the Supreme Court had observed that the petitioners had established a prima facie case in their contempt plea, alleging that authorities failed to comply with the court’s directions regarding Metro and train services during the protest.
The court had issued notices to Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, Delhi Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Chairperson D. Thara, seeking their responses to the allegations.
The protest was called by the CJP on October 10 to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities.
The case has brought the government’s security measures during public demonstrations under judicial scrutiny, with the Supreme Court examining the allegations of non-compliance with its earlier directions.
