The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ordered the unblocking of the Cockroach Janata Party's (CJP) X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that concerns about its potential to disrupt the NEET examination are no longer relevant as the exam has concluded.
Court's Ruling on the Blocking Order
A bench of Justice Sanjeev Narula directed the central government to restore access to the account within 24 hours. The court observed that the primary reason for the blocking—preventing chaos among students and parents during NEET—had ceased to exist. "The NEET exam is over. The concerns that prompted the blocking are no longer relevant," the bench noted.
The Centre had earlier blocked the account under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, citing the need to maintain public order. Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma argued that the CJP's posts could have caused confusion and panic among NEET aspirants and their families.
CJP's Argument and Free Speech
Appearing for the CJP, senior advocate Abhijeet Dipke contended that the blocking was unconstitutional and violated the right to free speech. He argued that the account had been used for satire and political commentary, not to incite chaos. "The party has never issued any threat or misinformation regarding NEET. The blocking is an overreach," Dipke said.
The court agreed that while the government has the power to block content in the interest of public order, such powers must be exercised proportionately. Since the NEET exam had already been held, the justification for the ban no longer existed.
Government's Position and Compliance
The Centre submitted that it had blocked the account to prevent any disruption during the high-stakes medical entrance exam, which saw over 1.8 million candidates this year. However, the court noted that no evidence of actual disruption was presented. "The blocking appears precautionary, but it cannot continue indefinitely," the bench remarked.
The court directed the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to ensure compliance with the order. The CJP's X account is expected to be active within 24 hours.
Background of the Case
The Cockroach Janata Party, known for its satirical posts, had its account blocked in late June 2026, just days before the NEET exam. The party claimed the action was politically motivated, as it had been critical of government policies. The Delhi High Court's decision is seen as a significant ruling on the balance between national security and free speech in the digital age.
