Delhi High Court seeks Centre's response on plea alleging data breaches on online platforms of Domino's, BigBasket, MobiKwik, Air India

The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Central government on a plea alleging cyber security breaches and data leaks on online platforms like Domino's, Big Basket, Mobikwik and Air India [Yarlagadda Kiran Chandra vs. UOI].

Justice Rekha Palli granted time to the Standing Counsel for Central government, Ajay Digpaul to obtain further instructions on the plea filed by Yarlagadda Kiran Chandra, General Secretary, Free Software Movement of India.

"Learned Counsel for respondents (Centre) prays for time to obtain instructions. The same shall be granted to him."

The matter will be heard on September 23 next.

The petition prayed for the issuance of a direction to the Computer Emergency Response Team, India or CERT-In to begin investigation against the data breaches that occurred on well-known online platforms like Dominoes, Air India, Mobikwik and Big Basket.

It was also mentioned that all subjects of breach were mobile or online web applications collecting personal information of people in order to render services.

"The petitioner had written to CERT-In on four different occasions requesting an investigation as mandated by CERT-In Rules, under S. 70 B of the IT Act, 2000 wherein it says that CERT-In shall acknowledge and redress all grievances received by it, within a month. However, there was no response," the petition read.

Under Section 70B of the IT Act, 2000, CERT-In is responsible for collecting, analysing information on cyber incidents, take emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents; and to call for information and give directions to the service providers, intermediaries, data centres, body corporate and any other person.

Advocates Prasanth Sugathan, Yuvraj Singh Rathore and Prasanna represented the General Secretary of the Free Software Movement of India.