The Rajasthan High Court has issued sweeping directives to the state government, demanding an immediate and comprehensive strategy to combat what it describes as an alarming surge in cyber-crimes across the state.
Court's Strong Directive Against Digital Offences
A single judge bench of Justice Sameer Jain expressed serious concern over the exponential rise in cyber-related offences while hearing multiple bail applications, including that of one Hakam and others. The court was presented with police data revealing that in 2024, more than 10,000 cyber-crime complaints were registered involving fraud amounts exceeding ₹795 crores.
Even more concerning, the data for 2025 already shows over 11,000 complaints with fraudulent transactions amounting to ₹678 crores, indicating a rapidly worsening situation that demands immediate intervention.
Comprehensive Strategy and White Paper Committee
Justice Jain's bench ordered the creation of a joint white paper committee with representatives from multiple key departments including Education, Home, Information Technology and Communication, and Social Justice and Empowerment. This committee has been tasked with preparing a detailed analysis of current cyber-crime trends, demographic patterns, and both preventive and rehabilitative mechanisms.
The court set a strict deadline of December 8, 2025 for the preliminary document to be submitted after examination by the chief secretary. The order emphasized that the strategy must be integrated, time-bound, and focus on institutional coordination alongside structured preventive mechanisms.
Youth Vulnerability and Required Interventions
Justice Jain made crucial observations about the demographic most affected by cyber-crimes, noting that both offenders and victims predominantly belong to the 16-27 year age group. The judgment highlighted that easy access to smartphones, expanding digital platforms, and inadequate digital literacy have created fertile ground for misuse.
The court specifically mentioned that these factors are exacerbated by peer pressure and the absence of structured cyber-ethics education. It noted that cyber-crimes transcend geographical boundaries and conventional policing methods, covering offences such as online fraud, impersonation, cyber-bullying, identity theft, and circulation of illicit content.
Preventive Framework and Awareness Measures
In a significant move toward prevention, the court ordered the creation of a standardized cyber awareness framework to be implemented uniformly across educational institutions and community centers. This framework will include quarterly sensitization sessions, counseling for parents, and training of specialist cyber-resource persons.
The court advocated for a reformative rather than purely punitive approach to dealing with cyber-crime, recognizing the unique challenges posed by digital offences. The directions underscore the urgent need for Rajasthan to develop robust mechanisms that can effectively counter the sophisticated nature of modern cyber threats while protecting vulnerable populations, particularly youth navigating the digital landscape without adequate guidance.
