The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to entertain a plea which alleged that telecom services were disrupted in various parts of the national capital during the anti-citizenship law protests in violation of rules. The court however said the petitioner can file for damages on account of any loss due to the disruption.

A bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar refused to entertain the PIL after Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Sanjay Jain, appearing for the Centre, told the court the disruption was only for four hours on December 19 and was no longer continuing, agencies reported. Jain further said no rules were violated in the issuance of the direction for the prohibition of telecom services as contended by the petitioner. The petition contended that the order for prohibition of telecom services in Delhi was issued by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) and not the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) who is the competent authority to issue such a direction under the relevant rules.

—India Legal Bureau