The Supreme Court today issued notice to the Centre on a PIL filed by 'Just Rights for Children Alliance' seeking safeguards against use of social media and other digital platforms by minors.

A bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana passed the order, after hearing Senior Advocate HS Phoolka (for petitioner). During the hearing, the bench orally observed that certain safeguards are required to be put in place. "There should be some firewalls", said Justice Bagchi.

The plea raises concerns about minors being allowed to create and maintain social media accounts despite their inability to contract as per Section 11 of the Indian Contract Act. It stresses that the absence of an effective mechanism for verification of age and legal authority of users tends to expose children to risks such as online grooming, sexual exploitation, digital trafficking, sextortion, age-inappropriate content, etc.

The petitioner seeks directions to the Union to inform digital platforms that any contract entered into by a child below 18 is void ab initio, and steps should be taken to suspend such contracts.

It further seeks insertion of a rule in the Information Technology Rules, or appropriate guidelines in the alternative, so that minors do not enter such agreements with social media intermediaries without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. The identity of the parent or legal guardian must be verified through e-KYC or other legally appropriate mechanism, the petitioner says.

The petitioner also urges that it does not seek complete exclusion of children from the digital framework, as it is important for their education, research, skilling, exam preparation, etc. On the contrary, it advocates a 'prevention by design' approach to tackle foreseeable risks discovered while designing and providing services (rather than post-occurrence remedial measures).

The petition has been filed through AoR Saksham Maheshwari.

Case: Just Rights for Children Alliance v. Union of India and Anr., W.P.(C) No. 1120/2026