Bombay HC Disposes PIL Over Cyber Attacks On Official State Websites, Notes Petitioner Willing To Give Suggestions To Cyber Department

A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Bharati Dangre observed “Undoubtedly there is need to prevent the government websites from the cyber attacks. The petitioner who claims to be an expert is willing to give suggestions to the competent authority to prevent cyber attack. Therefore, the petition is disposed of with a liberty to the petitioner to submit a proposal to respondent no. 4 and 6.”

The petitioner said that he would suggest measures to ensure cyber attacks do not take place on government sites and suggest preventive measures against cyber attacks to the Maharashtra Cyber Department (respondent no. 4) and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crime Mumbai Police (respondent no. 6).

The petition was filed by an Information Technology Consultant and Visiting Professor of Law. The petitioner argued that due to inadequate security measures and a lack of monitoring of cyber infrastructure, parts of the government website have been compromised. The petitioner stated that websites have been contaminated with software which causes unsuspecting visitors to be redirected to a gambling website, which attempts to collect the personal information of the visitor.

The petitioner prayed for directing the State authorities to take steps to block the infected websites and to take preventive measures to ensure that cyber attacks do not occur in the future. The petitioner also prayed for registration of FIRs against persons responsible for such attacks and to direct the police to investigate the matter.

Today during the hearing, the petitioner stated that he was conversant with internet technologies and malware attacks. He said that willing to provide suggestions to the State authorities to prevent cyber attacks on the official websites.

The counsel for Maharashtra Cyber Department and Police Cyber Crime said that if the petitioner submits suggestions, the authorities would take steps to ensure implementation subject to its feasibility.

In view of the above, the Court noted that on receiving the proposal from the petitioner, the concerned authorities shall take effective steps to implement the said proposal subject to the feasibility of such proposal.

The Court thus disposed of the petition.

Case title: Ruzbeh Dossabhoy Raja vs. State of Maharashtra & Ors. (PIL/23/2025)

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Bom) 55

Counsels for Petitioner: Advocate Ajinkya Udane a/w advocate Jay Bhatia

Click Here To Read/Download Order