Delhi HC asks Centre to consider if Google should be restrained from showing Indian map

The Delhi High Court has directed the Central Government to consider if Google India should be restrained from uploading/posting maps of India, including the defence installations, on its Google Earth services and other applications..The order was passed by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar in a public interest litigation by advocate Kisalaya Shukla (petitioner)..The petitioner had claimed that he was “constrained to file” the petition because the Central Government had failed to restrain Google India from publishing detailed maps of India on its Google Earth services. As a result, all critical and sensitive information related to India’s defence establishments and other vital information through 3D pictures/images was available in the public domain, resulting in blatant violation of India’s sovereignty..Since the information is visible to hostile nations as well, Google’s services posed a serious security threat to the nation, it was added..“..it is worth mentioning here that the Respondent No.4 (Google India) makes available the strategic locations of Armed Force Bases to all and sundry including to the hostile nations. It is also pertinent to mention here that Indian Govt. had at the very first instance refused to grant permission to respondent No.4 for making available to the public at large its ‘Street View’ services but despite of such refusal/denial it continues to host the panoramic view of all cities of India and including the areas bordering Line of Actual Control.”.The petitioner also stated that as per Wikipedia, one of the lone terrorists who was captured alive in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks also admitted to using Google services for studying and conducting a reconnaissance of the target area..Further explaining the features of the Google Earth service, the petitioner submitted that it provided tools and mechanisms for ascertaining crucial information like calculating the distance between two places..Thus arguing that no private company, whether domestic or foreign, should be allowed to map India, the petitioner had prayed for a direction to the Central Government to make India’s indigenous navigation system, ‘NAVIC’, available to the general public at the earliest..After hearing the petitioner, the Court directed the Central Government to treat the petition as a representation and consider whether Google should be restrained from uploading/posting maps of India, including the defence installations, on its Google Earth services..If required, the Central Government can issue necessary directions to Google India in accordance with the law, it was stated..With this direction, the petition was disposed of.