J U D G M E N T

Ms. G. ROHINI, CHIEF JUSTICE

1. The petitioners claim to be the users of “WhatsApp”, an Internet Messaging Application, provided by the respondent No.2/"WhatsApp Inc.", a company based in USA.

2. The present writ petition by way of Public Interest Litigation has been filed with the following prayer:

"(a) Issue a writ of prohibition or any other writ or direction in the nature thereof prohibiting respondents No. 2 to 4 from sharing, in any manner whatsoever, details and data of every kind of the subscribers / users of WhatsApp with any entity including Facebook or its family of companies;

(b) Issue a writ of mandamus or any other writ or direction in the nature thereof directing the respondent 1 and 5 or any other appropriate authority to discharge their executive, statutory and all other obligations in relation to protection and safety of privacy of details / data of every kind of the subscribers / users of WhatsApp all over the territory of India by taking all necessary steps / actions in discharge of their executive as well as statutory functions including by framing rules / regulations / guidelines for the protection of rights of citizens including the safeguarding an