Supreme Court orders restoration of AAP Gujarat's Facebook, Instagram accounts
The Supreme Court of India has ordered the restoration of the Aam Aadmi Party's Gujarat unit social media accounts. The court's interim order follows a petition by the party challenging the government's decision to block their digital platforms without prior notice.
Why it matters
This case highlights the ongoing tension between government regulatory power over digital platforms and the protection of political speech in a democracy.
The Supreme Court on Monday (August 17, 2026) directed the restoration of the Instagram and Facebook accounts of the Aam Aadmi Party ’s (AAP’s) Gujarat unit.
A Bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe passed the order on an interim application filed by the party.
The top court, which allowed the application subject to the removal of objectionable posts, if any, posted the main case for hearing after two weeks.
The AAP challenged what it described as an “illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional” order to geo-block and suspend the Meta handles of the party’s Gujarat unit without giving any reason, hearing or prior notice.
In May, the court had issued notices to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the State of Gujarat on the petition filed by the AAP, which alleged that the move was intended to “silence an Opposition party and is opposed to multi-party democracy”.
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