Delhi HC Dismisses PIL Against Truecaller: Compares Service to Traditional Phone Directories

The ruling by the court suggests that Truecaller’s services, such as providing names and emails associated with phone numbers, are comparable to the traditional practice of publishing telephone directories.

The Delhi High Court dismissed a petition on Monday that challenged Truecaller’s caller identification feature. The petitioner, Ajay Shukla, argued that Truecaller’s practice of revealing caller identities from unknown numbers violated privacy rights.

The Delhi High Court, represented by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora, compared Truecaller’s services to the traditional act of publishing telephone directories. They emphasized that Truecaller’s provision of names and emails associated with phone numbers is similar to the conventional practice of directory services. The court concluded that such actions are facilitative rather than constituting an infringement of privacy.

Shukla’s argument revolved around the claim that Truecaller’s activities resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of information regarding third parties, which could potentially harm their reputation. His legal representative emphasized that the app accessed users’ phonebooks, leading to the exposure of individuals who had not consented to its terms and conditions.

The court, likening Truecaller’s functionality to traditional phone directories, considered it a contemporary version of conventional practices. The defense refuted Shukla’s allegations, characterizing the petition as a publicity stunt. They highlighted his previous unsuccessful attempt to challenge Truecaller’s operations in the Supreme Court.

Upon reviewing the Supreme Court’s prior dismissal of Shukla’s plea, the high court observed that the current writ petition lacked disclosure about the previous litigation. Consequently, the court deemed Shukla’s petition as a case of re-litigation and a possible misuse of legal process. As a result, the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against Truecaller was dismissed, affirming the legality of its caller identification services.

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