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The Centre on Monday submitted in the Delhi High Court that Whatsapp should confirm that they’ll follow Indian Law & would not delete accounts of the users. The central government’s claim was made before a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh during hearing of several pleas challenging WhatsApp’s new privacy policy, which according to the platform had come into effect from May 15 and had not been deferred.

ASG Chetan Sharma appearing for the Centre urged on the imminent need to maintain the status quo & submitted if Whatsapp could make a statement on affidavit that each of their privacy policy did not violate the rules.

Sharma further apprised the Bench of the fact that Watsapp had issued a statement wherein they had categorically mentioned that they would not delete the accounts & would educate & persuade the subscribers and that there would be no interceding of privacy of chats of the subscribers. 

“There is a privacy policy and India has the largest population using the app and there is an imminent need to maintain the status quo”, said ASG Chetan Sharma. 

Adv Vivek Sood apprised the bench of the fact that both Whatsapp & Facebook had filed their replies & made a statement that they would not implement the policy for the next few weeks. 

Appearing for Whatsapp, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal opposing Sood’s submission contended that, “My learned friend is making a wrong statement. We have not made any statement that we are not  implementing the policy. We have decided to bring the users on board and if they refuse to accept the policy they may not use the app.” It was also his submission that Whatsapp would not delete any person’s account at the first instance & the user’s account would only be disconnected if they are not convinced even after persuasion. 

The Court thereafter while directing the parties to file all the replies & pleading before the Bench finally began to hear the matter has kept the same for further hearing on June 3, 2021.

Also Read: Plea In Delhi HC Challenging Updated Whatsapp Policy On Ground Of Arbitrariness Listed For Hearing Next Week; To Be Treated As PIL