High Court rejects plea against Army’s policy banning social media use

Observing that warfare is “not confined to accession of territory” but extends to “affecting the economies and political stability of enemy country” by “inciting civil unrest”, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday rejected a plea challenging the Indian Army’s policy banning personnel from using certain social media platforms.

A bench of Justice Rahiv Sahai Endlaw and Justice Asha Menon held that the Army’s policy “has not been issued impulsively but is preceded by prolonged study of different aspects and data collated in this regard with particular instances and deliberations at the highest level thereon and has been issued after considering similar bans imposed by other countries, on armed personnel”.