Authorities in Rajasthan imposed a 24-hour internet shutdown across large parts of Jaipur starting at midnight on June 8, 2026, suspending mobile internet, bulk SMS, MMS, and access to platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and X. The order was issued by Divisional Commissioner V. Saravana Kumar on June 7 under the Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services Rules, 2017, ahead of a Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) anti-encroachment drive.
The shutdown covers dozens of police station areas in Jaipur and is intended to prevent protests, market closures, and the spread of videos, photographs, and messages on social media that could disrupt public order during the demolition of five religious structures. The Temporary Suspension of Telecom Services (Public Emergency or Public Safety) Rules, 2017, allow such measures during public emergencies or for public safety, with orders issued by the Union or State Home Secretary and subject to review by a designated committee.
Internet shutdowns in India are regulated following the Supreme Court ruling in Anuradha Bhasin v. Union of India, which mandates that shutdowns cannot be indefinite and must be subject to judicial oversight. This shutdown reflects ongoing tensions between authorities’ efforts to maintain public order during sensitive operations and the rights of citizens to access communication services. Similar shutdowns have been used in the past to manage unrest during contentious government actions.
The internet suspension in Jaipur will last from 12 AM on June 8 to 12 AM on June 9, 2026, covering mobile internet and major social media platforms, as detailed in the official order issued by the Rajasthan government.