Today, the Delhi High Court rejected a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition targeting the mobile application Truecaller. This app assists users in identifying callers from unfamiliar numbers.

During the hearing, a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora commented that services such as providing names and emails associated with phone numbers are merely a convenience. They noted that in the past, telephone directories containing the names and phone numbers of individuals were regularly published, indicating a historical precedent for such services.

Case Brief-

The Court was addressing a plea filed by Ajay Shukla, who alleged privacy violations by Truecaller, asserting that the app provides information about third parties without their consent. The petitioner's counsel informed the Court that Truecaller accesses a user's phonebook, subsequently revealing addresses, emails, and other details of individuals who haven't consented to Truecaller's terms and conditions.

However, on the contrary, the counsel representing the opposing party informed the Court that the PIL appeared to be more of a "publicity interest litigation," suggesting that the petitioner had previously brought a similar plea before the Supreme Court, which was subsequently dismissed.

The High Court examined the order and noted that the apex court has dismissed the plea without granting the petitioner the liberty to approach the High Court.