Delhi HC refuses to entertain plea to not charge telephone, internet bills for offices, shops etc that have remained closed due to lockdown

A division bench comprising of  Vipin Sanghi and Yogesh Khanna today refused to entertain a petition that sought directions to all telephone operators and internet service providers (ISPs) to not charge offices, shops, businesses, factories etc as they were compulsorily closed due to COVID-19 lockdown.

The bench observed that a similar issue had been taken up by the Supreme Court.

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The Petitioner, SK Sharma, had sought waiver of bills from telephone and internet service providers on the ground that these services had not been used at shops, offices etc due to the lockdown.

Adding to the submission the petitioner argued that as for services were ‘not availed’ due to the directions issued by the Government, payment for the same was unjustified.

The Petitioner also suggested that in case such waiver was not granted, the amount that was collected by the telephone/ internet service providers should be directed to the PM National Relief Fund.

The Court was informed that the Petitioner had even made a representation on this matter to the authorities but to no avail.

After the Court refused to entertain the plea, the same was withdrawn by the petitioner.

Petitioner was represented by Advocate Amit Sahni.