NEW DELHI, OCT 15 (PTI): Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan has tendered an unconditional and unqualified apology to the Supreme Court in a contempt case over alleged violation of the apex court’s direction against a “complete prohibition” on Metro and train services in Delhi during the October 10 protest called by the Cockroach Janta Party.
In an affidavit filed in the top court, Mohan said Delhi Police had requested suspension of cellular internet services for one day, until 10 pm on October 10.
The request was examined in accordance with law and considered proportionate, given the situation and the need to prevent disturbance of public order in the national capital.
He said cellular internet services were suspended from 10 pm on October 9 until 10 pm on October 10 within a 4-km radius of Raisina Hill.
The suspension was confined to cellular internet and did not extend to non-cellular internet or telecommunication services such as Wi-Fi and broadband.
Mohan submitted that suspending internet services for a limited period and within a defined geographical area, subject to statutory safeguards, was a recognised measure for maintaining public order in appropriate circumstances.
He urged the court to modify its October 11 order to permit internet suspension in situations of necessity, strictly in accordance with law and applicable safeguards.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday.
MHA says no contempt made out against govt, police: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday said all actions taken by the government and police were fully compliant with the law and that no case of contempt was made out against them.
Responding to media reports that Mohan had tendered an unconditional apology while replying to the Supreme Court’s contempt notice, the ministry said such an apology by the Home Secretary was a mandatorily required response followed in every contempt petition.
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