Archive · 29 Sep 2026
Centre Backs Supreme Court Move to Bar Minors Online
The Centre supports a plan to stop minors from using social media legally.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta discussed the issue in court.
He acknowledged that Indian law has a gap on this matter.
The court said minors cannot enter into contracts.
Social media companies often use rules based on foreign laws.
The court said those practices do not match Indian law.
The government said it may use provisions in the IT Rules.
The Supreme Court is considering how the law should address minors’ access to social media.
The Centre supports a Supreme Court move to legally bar minors from social media.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta acknowledged a statutory gap concerning minors and contracts.
The government said it is ready to invoke relevant provisions of the IT Rules.
The court said minors cannot enter into contracts under the law.
The court also said social media companies’ foreign-law-based practices do not conform to Indian law.
- Who
- The Centre, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and the Supreme Court.
- What
- The Centre supports a move to legally bar minors from social media.
- When
- During Supreme Court proceedings; no date is specified.
- Where
- The Supreme Court.
- Why
- Because the court identified a statutory gap, said minors cannot enter into contracts, and found that foreign-law-based social media practices do not conform to Indian law.
- Government position
- The Centre supports legally barring minors from social media.
- Government representative
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta represented the Centre.
- Legal gap
- The Centre acknowledged a statutory gap.
- Contracts
- The court said minors cannot enter into contracts.
- Possible legal action
- The government said it is ready to invoke relevant provisions of the IT Rules.
- Court concern
- The court said social media companies’ practices based on foreign legal standards do not conform to Indian law.