The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Union Government to file its replies in the batch of petitions challenging the suspension and blocking of social media accounts and online content, while separately listing the Aam Aadmi Party’s application seeking interim relief for hearing on Monday.

A Bench of Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe observed that several connected petitions and interlocutory applications involving similar issues were pending before the Court. To ensure an effective hearing, the Bench decided that the matters would be organised and heard together as a batch.

During the proceedings, the Court directed the parties to prepare and exchange their written submissions and relevant documents within four weeks. It also granted time to the Union Government to file its replies in the connected matters.

The Bench clarified that while the main batch of petitions, including those tagged with Software Freedom Law Center, India v. Union of India, will be taken up for hearing in October, the Aam Aadmi Party’s application seeking interim relief against the suspension of its Gujarat unit’s Instagram account and Facebook page will be listed separately on Monday.