Supreme Court dismisses PIL seeking regulation of internet prices saying, “It's a free market”

Today (February 24, 2025), the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) filed by petitioner-in-person, Rajat, seeking regulation of internet prices. The SC bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar dismissed the PIL granting liberty to the petitioner to seek alternative statutory remedies. The CJI said, “It's a free market, you get LAN, you get wired internet, there is other internet, BSNL and MTNL is also giving you internet.” The petitioner argued, “They are giving, but see the market share your lordship- 80% of the market share is with Jio (Reliance).” After hearing this, the CJI said, “No please, then go to the Competition Commission of India…” Therefore, the SC bench dismissed the petition, the order reads, “We are not inclined to entertain the present petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, petition is dismissed. We however clarify that in case the petitioner wants to take any recourse to appropriate statutory remedy he is at liberty to do so , we make no comments in this regard.”