The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the restoration of the X account of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) after the Union government informed the Bench that it no longer had any objection to unblocking the account.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta told the court that the account had been blocked as a precautionary measure before the June 21 NEET re-test.
Of course, now the examination is over,” Mr. Mehta said.
Now that the exam was over, Mr. Mehta said, the government had “no difficulty” if the X account was unblocked.
Shortly after the court order, the CJP’s original handle, CJP_for_India, could be accessed on X.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the restoration of the X account of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) after the Union government informed the Bench that it no longer had any objection to unblocking the account.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma passed the order while hearing a petition filed by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke challenging the government’s decision to withhold the account in India.
Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta told the court that the account had been blocked as a precautionary measure before the June 21 NEET re-test. He argued that certain posts on the platform had the potential to create confusion and panic among the lakhs of candidates and parents.
“Several posts would have created chaos among the students and their parents. Of course, now the examination is over,” Mr. Mehta said.
Now that the exam was over, Mr. Mehta said, the government had “no difficulty” if the X account was unblocked.
“Since NEET is already over, the primary concern is no longer of any relevance. In these circumstances, the order is revoked. The petition is allowed,” Justice Sharma ordered.
Shortly after the court order, the CJP’s original handle, CJP_for_India, could be accessed on X.
During earlier proceedings, senior advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for Mr. Dipke, argued that the CJP’s content was “pure satire", and contended that if the authorities found any individual posts objectionable, only those specific posts should have been restricted rather than blocking the entire account.
The CJP emerged on social media in May as a satirical digital movement following controversy surrounding remarks made by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. After the original X handle was withheld in India on May 21, the group subsequently launched a new account, “Cockroach is Back”, which has since attracted more than 2,82,000 followers.
