The Delhi High Court on Wednesday expressed serious concern over a recent Staff Selection Commission (SSC) notification that prohibits candidates from discussing, analysing, or circulating question papers from already conducted examinations on social media platforms. The court observed that the commission cannot impose such restrictions, terming them as “gag orders.”
A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela was hearing a petition filed by Vikas Kumar Mishra, challenging the SSC’s September 8 directive. The court issued notice to the Centre and the SSC, asking them to file their responses before the next hearing on December 17.
During the hearing, the bench remarked,
“After coming out of the exam hall, the first thing that we used to do was … what is this? How is this being prohibited in the notification? Please, I don’t know how… You can’t put such gag orders.”
The bench added,
“What is this? You can’t discuss question papers? Issue notice to the Respondents. List on December 17.”
In his plea, Mishra argued that the SSC notification is illegal, arbitrary, and perverse, and violates the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution.
“The said Notification has been passed contrary to the settled and established principles of law and therefore, deserves to be quashed. Further, the said notice directly seeks to infringe the basic fundamental right of speech and expression as enshrined under Article 19 of the Constitution of India, as the same unreasonably restricts discussion of examination which has already been conducted by Respondent No. 2 (SSC),” the plea stated.
The petition sought the court’s intervention to strike down the notification, calling it an unreasonable restriction on candidates and the public’s right to discuss examinations after they are held.
Meanwhile, the Staff Selection Commission has announced the launch of its official X (formerly Twitter) account — @SSC_GoI. In its public notice, the commission urged candidates to follow the authentic handle for timely updates on exams and recruitment processes.
“This is to inform all candidates that the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) is now active on X (formerly Twitter). For timely updates, announcements, and other important information related to SSC exams and recruitment processes, you can follow us on our official X handle: @SSC_GoI,” the notice read.
The SSC also warned candidates to beware of fake or similar-looking handles and to rely only on the official account for accurate information.
Next Hearing: December 17, 2025
The court will take up the matter after the Centre and SSC file their replies to the petition.
