New Delhi: Recently, the Delhi High Court entertained the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition concerning the Truecaller mobile application, which helps users identify callers from unknown numbers.
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A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora emphasized that Truecaller’s services, such as providing names and emails associated with phone numbers, go beyond the traditional practice of publishing telephone directories.
The plea filed by Ajay Shukla alleges privacy violations by Truecaller for sharing information about third parties without their consent.
Shukla’s counsel argued that Truecaller accesses a user’s phonebook and discloses addresses, emails, and other details of individuals who haven’t consented to its terms and conditions, potentially causing reputational harm as contact numbers could be labeled as ‘spam.’
“Previously phone directories used to be published. This is a facility,” the Court remarked.
However, the opposing counsel contended that the PIL was merely a ‘public interest litigation’ and noted that Shukla had previously approached the Supreme Court with the same plea, which was dismissed.
Examining the Supreme Court’s decision, the High Court observed that the apex court had dismissed the plea without allowing Shukla to appeal to the High Court.
The High Court deemed the petition re-litigation and an abuse of legal process, ultimately dismissing the PIL.
CASE TITLE: Ajay Shukla v Union of India & Ors
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