The plea is premature: Supreme Court dismisses Facebook India VP Ajit Mohan's plea against summons by Delhi panel

The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the plea filed by  Ajit Mohan, Vice President of Facebook India, seeking to quash the summons issued by the Peace and Harmony committee of the Delhi Assembly concerning the Delhi riots. However, the court noted that the Delhi Assembly cannot inquire into the matters falling under the jurisdiction of the Central Government, such as law and order/prosecution. 

The court added that although the Delhi Assembly Committee has the has the power to summon anyone to appear for information gathering, Facebook officials can refuse to answer questions, which are not within the jurisdiction of the Peace and Harmony Committee of Delhi Assembly. The court also remarked that Delhi Legislative Assembly should refrain from interfering in the matters that fall under the jurisdiction of the central government.

Ajit Mohan had contended before a bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Dinesh Maheshwari and Hrishikesh Roy that the Peace and Harmony committee lacks the authority to summon or hold petitioners in breach of its privileges for failing to appear before it and has exceeded its Constitutional limits by doing so. However according to the bench Ajit's plea was pre-mature as nothing has happened against him before Delhi Assembly's committee.

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