The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Central government and Meta Platforms over a petition challenging the restriction of the Instagram account Bring Back Ballot, which campaigned for a return to paper ballots in Indian elections.
Justice Amit Mahajan issued notice to the respondents on Wednesday and scheduled the next hearing for November 6.
The account was operated by advocate Mehmood Pracha and his organisation, Mission Save Constitution. The petitioners told the court that the account was blocked in India on October 10, coinciding with a protest calling for the replacement of electronic voting machines (EVMs) with paper ballots.
The organisation had planned to hold a demonstration at Jantar Mantar under the slogan “EVM Hatao Desh Bachao”.
Petition challenges lack of notice
According to the petition, the Instagram account was restricted without prior notice, an opportunity to be heard, an explanation of the decision or access to the order directing the block.
Users attempting to access the page were shown a message stating that it was unavailable in India because Instagram had complied with a legal request to restrict the account.
The petitioners said the account had more than 40,000 followers and served as a platform for sharing posters, videos and explanatory material supporting the return of paper ballots. It was also used to mobilise people for the planned demonstration.
Free speech at the centre of the dispute
The plea argues that the restriction imposed by the government and Meta infringes the petitioners’ fundamental rights under Article 19 of the Constitution, including freedom of speech and expression, peaceful assembly and association.
The challenge places the circumstances surrounding the account’s blocking, including the absence of a disclosed order and prior hearing, at the heart of the legal dispute.
The High Court will take up the matter again on November 6, when the responses of the government and Meta are expected to be addressed.