Karnataka High Court
Miss. Ramola. U. S vs Sri. B. I. Hemanth Kumar on 7 November, 2025
Author: Pradeep Singh Yerur
Bench: Pradeep Singh Yerur
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WP No. 33446 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR
WRIT PETITION NO.33446 OF 2025 (GM-CPC)
BETWEEN:
MISS.RAMOLA. U. S.
D/O SHANMUKHA
AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS
R/AT NO.661, ARJUNA APARTMENTS
46TH CROSS ROAD, 3RD BLOCK
NEAR SHRIVARU COFFEE SHOP
RAJAJINAGAR
BENGALURU - 560 010.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI.SREEVATSA., SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. MAHESH R
D.,ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. SRI. B. I. HEMANTH KUMAR
S/O INDU SHEKAR
AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS
R/AT NO.135, 2ND MAIN,
Digitally signed 2ND CROSS, HEALTH LAYOUT
by
GAVRIBIDANUR ANNAPOORNESHWARI NAGAR
SUBRAMANYA NAGARABHAVI,
GUPTA BENGALURU - 560 091
SREENATH
Location: HIGH
COURT OF 2. KANNADA PRABHA NEWS PAPER
KARNATAKA NO.1, QUEENS ROAD
BENGALURU, 560001.
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
BENGALURU CITY.
3. VIJAYAKARNATAKA NEWSPAPER
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
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4, PAMPA MAHAKAVI ROAD
CHAMARAJPET, OPP KANNADA SAHITYA PARISHAT,
BENGALURU, 560018
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
BENGALURU CITY.
4. VIJAYAVANI NEWSPAPER
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
24, 1ST AND 3RD FLOOR
SRI. SAIRAM TOWERS, 5TH MAIN
KP PUTTANNA CHETTY ROAD
CHAMRAJPET
BENGALURU, 560018
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
BENGALURU CITY.
5. PRAJAVANI NEWSPAPER
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
75, MG ROAD
BENGALURU - 560018
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
BENGALURU CITY
6. UDAYAVANI NEWSPAPER
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
NO. 202, II FLOOR, NORTH BLOCK,
MANIPAL CENTRE,
DICKENSON ROAD,
BENGALURU, 560 042
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
7. SAMYUKTHA KARNATAKA
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
NO. 2, FIELD
MARSHALL KM KARIAPPA ROAD,
BENGALURU, 560 025
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
8. HOSADIGANTA
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
NO. 106, 5TH MAIN,
CHAMARAJPET, NEAR TR MILLS
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BENGALURU, 560018
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
9. VIJAYA KARNATAKA
NO 4 KSCCF COMPOUND,
PAMPA MAHAKAVI ROAD,
CHAMRAJPET,
BENGALURU,
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
10. EE SANJE
2/4, DR. RAJKUMAR ROAD
BENGALURU - 560010
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
11. SANJEVANI
11/12, HONEY HOUSE, QUEENS ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 052
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
12. INDU SANJE
1236/4, 1ST FLOOR, KHB COLONY
MAGADI ROAD
BENGALURU -560 079
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
13. THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO.1
QUEENS ROAD
BENGALURU-560 001.
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
14. TIMES OF INDIA NEWSPAPER
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO.88
S AND B TOWERS, M.G.ROAD
BENGALURU-560 001
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
15. DECCAN CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO.68
LAVELLE ROAD
BENGALURU-560 001
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
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16. THE HINDU NEWSPAPER
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
NO. 19 AND 21,
BHAGAWAN MAHAVEER ROAD,
INFANTRY ROAD
BENGALURU -560 001
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
17. DECCAN HERALD NEWSPAPER
THE PRINTERS (MYSORE) PRIVATE LTD
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
NO. 75, MG ROAD,
POST BOX NO. 5331
BENGALURU, 560 001,
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
18. BANGALORE MIRROR
BENNETT, COLEMAN AND CO. LTD
9TH FLOOR, DUPARC TRENETY
NO.17, MG ROAD
BENGALURU -560 001
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
19. DOORDARSHAN
DOORADARSHAN KENDRA
NO.J.C NAGAR
BENGALURU -560 006
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
20. VISTARA MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED
1, 2 AND 4TH FLOOR,
INDIAN EXPRESS BUILDING
QUEENS ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 001.
21. PRAJA TV KANNADA NEWS
SHEZAN LAVELLE, NO. 4TH FLOOR,
15, WALTON ROAD
SHANTHALA NAGAR
ASHOK NAGAR
BENGALURU-560 001
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ALSO AT C/O SAMPARKA INFO MEDIA PVT LTD,
SHEZAN LAVELLE, 4TH FLOOR
NO. 15, NEAR UB CITY,
WALTON ROAD,
BENGALURU 560 001
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
22. TV 9 KARNATAKA PRIVATE LIMITED
13/1, RHENIUS STREET, RICHMOND TOWN,
BENGALURU 560025,
REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHEF
23. PUBLIC TV NEWS CHANNEL PRIVATE LIMITED
4TH FLOOR, BMTC COMPLEX,
YESHWANTHPURA]
BENGALURU-560 022.
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
24. SUVARNA NEWS 24 X 7
HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT
36, CRESCENT ROAD, OPP. MALLIGE HOSPITAL,
BENGALURU-560001.
REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
25. JANASRI TV
NO.351, 5TH AND 6TH FLOOR
SALARPURIA TOWER 1, HOSUR ROAD
KORAMANGLA
BENGALURU-560 095.
REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHEF
26. KASTURI NEWS
KASTURI MEDIA PVT. LTD.,
NO.12 AND 12/1, JOSCO JEWELLERY
KASTURBA ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 001.
REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHEF
27. POWER TV NEWS
POWER SMART MEDIA,
NO. 7, 11TH MAIN
MATHIKERE MAIN ROAD, YESHWANTHPUR,
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1ST STAGE, 1ST PHASE
GOKULA EXTENSION,
BENGALURU-560054
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
28. TV 5 NEWS
PLOT NO, 129, RAILWAY PARALLEL ROAD,
KUMARA PARK WEST, SESHADRIPURAM,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560020.
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
29. DIGHVIJAYA NEWS
NO.3, LAL BAGH MAIN ROAD
DODDAMAVALLI, HALASURU
BENGALURU
KARNATAKA 560 027
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
30. NEWS 18 KANNADA
4TH FLOOR, SILVER JUBILEE BLOCK
CSI COMPOUND, UNITY BUILDING
3RD CROSS, MISSION ROAD
BENGALURU
KARNATAKA 560 027
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
31. RAJ TELEVISION NETWORK LTD
THIMMAIAH ROAD, KAVERAPPA LAYOUT
VASANTH NAGAR
BENGALURU-560051
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
32. TV 1
NO. 7, 1ST MAIN ROAD, 1ST PHASE,
GOKULA EXTENSION (MATTIKERE)
BENGALURU-560054
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
33. UDAYA TV
NO.MARAN TOWERS NO 09, BRUNTON ROAD.
M.G.ROAD.
BENGALURU-560 001
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REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
34. UDAYA VARTHEGALU
NO. MARAN TOWERS NO 09, BRUNTON ROAD.
M.G.ROAD
BENGALURU 560 025
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
35. E TV KANNADA NEWS DIVISION
9/7 YAMUNA BAI ROAD
BENGALURU -560 001.
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
36. SIRI KANNADA CHANNEL
NO.134, NAGALAXMI TOWERS
2ND FLOOR, 20TH MAIN ROAD
RAJAJINAGAR 5TH BLOCK
BENGALURU
KARNATAKA 560010
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
37. JANATA TV
4TH FLOOR, G. PULLAREDDY BUILDINGS,
GREENLANDS ROAD, SOMAJIGUDA
HYDERABAD-500016
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
38. NEWS FIRST KANNADA
NO.31, TBR TOWER NEW MISSION ROAD
1ST A CROSS, JC ROAD
BENGALURU -560 027
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
39. M/S BTV NEWS CHANNEL PRIVATE LIMITED
AT 32/1-2, CRESCENT TOWER
HIGH GROUND, CRESTON ROAD
BENGALURU 560 001,
REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF
40. NDTV NEWS
NEW DELHI TELEVISION LIMITED.
BENGALURU OFFICE AT NO.60/1
COLES ROAD, FRAZER TOWN
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BENGALURU - 560 001.
REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF.
41. TIMES NOW NEWS
BENGALURU OFFICE AT NO.20
ASHA ENCLAVE, CHURCH STREET
BENGALURU - 560 001.
REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF.
42. INDIA TODAY NEWS
BENGALURU OFFICE AT NO.201-204
2ND FLOOR, RICHMOND TOWERS
NO.12, RICHMOND ROAD
BENGALURU 560 025.
REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF.
43. AAJ TAK CHANNEL (TV TODAY)
12, 201, RICHMOND TOWN
RICHARDS ROAD
BENGALURU-560 025
REP BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
44. CNN
NETWORK 18, THE MILLENIA, TOWER C
6TH FLOOR, NO. 1AND 2
MURPHY ROAD, ULSOOR
BENGALURU -560 008
REP BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
45. NDTV
60/1, COLES ROAD, FRAZER TOWN
BENGALURU -560 003.
REP BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
46. NEWS X
SPENCER CASTLE, 2ND FLOOR, 28
SPENCER ROAD, FRASER TOWN
BENGALURU -560 005
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
47. ABP NEWS
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NEWS MEDIA CENTRE AND COMMUNICATION
SERVICE PVT LTD
849, 2ND FLOOR, 4TH MAIN
12TH CROSS, INDIRANAGAR I STAGE 15
BENGALURU 560 083
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
48. TIMES NOW
TIMES GLOBAL BROADCASTING COMPANY LTD.
1ST FLOOR, S AND B TOWERS, 4/1
M.G. ROAD, TIMES OF INDIA BUILDING
BENGALURU -560 001
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
49. AAJTAK,
116/118 TV TODAY
NETWORK LIMITED RICHMOND TOWER,
RICHMOND ROAD
BENGALURU -560 025
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
50. ZEE NEWS,
14TH FLOOR, 'A' WING
MARATHON FUTUREX N M JOSHI MARO
MUMBAI-400 013
MAHARASHTRA, INDIA
LOWER PAREL
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR
51. PRESS TRUST OF INDIA (PTI),
17/2, NO. 28, SRI KRUPA, V.S. RAJU ROAD
KUMARA PARK WEST
BENGALURU -560 020
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE
52. FACEBOOK INDIA ONLINE SERVICES PVT LTD
A PRIVATE LIMITED INCORPORATED
UNDER PROVISIONS OF COMPANIES ACT, 1956
AND HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE
UNIT NOS. 1203, PLOT NO.C-G BLOCK
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BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX, BANDRA
EAST. MUMBAI-400 051.
ALSO AT- GURGAON, DLF HORIZON BUILDING,
SECTOR 43, GURUGRAM
HARYANA-122 022.
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE
53. FACEBOOK INC.
A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
HAVING ITS O/AT MUMBAI AT ONE BKC
BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX, BANDRA (E)
MUMBAI-400 051
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE
54. YOUTUBE INDIA,
A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AN HAVING O/AT WHISTLING WOOD,
INTERNATIONAL, FILM CITY COMPLEX
AAREY COLONY, GOREGAON (EAST)
MUMBAI-400 065.
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE
55. TWITTER COMMUNICATIONS INDIA PVT LTD
A PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
INCORPORATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF
COMPANIES ACT, 1956
HAVING ITS O/AT C-20, G BLOCK
NEAR MCA, BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX
BANDRA (E)
MUMBAI-400 051.
ALSO AT- TEC QUTAB, LEVEL 1 CRESCENT
BUILDING, LADO SARAI MEHRAULI
NEW DELHI-110 030
REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED
REPRESENTATIVE
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56. THE PRINT
3RD FLOOR, 9 AND 10
BAHADURSHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI-110002.
57. THE WIRE
FIRST FLOOR, 13 SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH MARG
GOLE MARKET
NEW DELHI-110 001.
58. PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU
NO.111, 1ST FLOOR, GANESH TOWER
INFANTRY ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 001
...RESPONDENTS
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 FOF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE LEARNED
XI ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU, TO
FORTHWITH CONSIDER AND DISPOSE OF I.A. NO.6 FILED
UNDER SECTION 151 OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE,
1908, SEEKING CONTINUATION OF THE INTERIM ORDER
DATED 24.11.2023, WITHIN A TIME FRAME TO BE FIXED BY
THIS HONBLE COURT.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR
ORAL ORDER
Heard learned senior counsel - Sri Sreevatsa on behalf of learned counsel - Sri Mahesh R.D. for petitioner.
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2. The reliefs that were sought in the present petition are as under:
(i) Direct the Learned XI Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, to forthwith consider and dispose of I.A. No.6 filed under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, seeking continuation of the Interim Order dated 24.11.2023 in OS 7598/23 vide Annexure-A,, within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon'ble Court;
(ii) Issue such other writ, order or direction as deem fit in the circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity.
3. This Court does not find any need to issue notice to the respondents as the only relief that is sought in the present writ petition is to direct the trial Court to dispose of I.A. No.6 in a time bound manner.
4. Parties are referred to as per their ranking before the trial Court.
5. It is the case of petitioner that he filed a suit for permanent prohibitory injunction in O.S. No.7598/2023 against the respondents. Alongwith the suit, an application came to be
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NC: 2025:KHC:45403 WP No. 33446 of 2025 HC-KAR filed under Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure for an ad interim exparte order of Temporary Injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, servants or anybody claiming through them from telecasting/ broadcasting/publishing/disseminating/distributing anything in negative form referring to the plaintiff, which is defamatory in nature.
6. The trial Court being satisfied with the submissions made by learned counsel for petitioner/plaintiff, granted an exparte ad-interim order of Temporary Injunction against defendant Nos.1 to 58. The said order reads as under:
"The defendants No.1 to 58 are hereby restrained from telecasting or broadcasting or publishing any defamatory articles/statements, damaging the reputation of the plaintiff, till next date of hearing.
However, this order would not come in the way of the defendants in publishing any true and authenticated news, without making any defamatory remarks against the plaintiff.
Issue order of temporary injunction, emergent notice on I.A.No.1 and suit summons to
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NC: 2025:KHC:45403 WP No. 33446 of 2025 HC-KAR the defendants No.1 to 58, after compliance of Order XXXIX Rule 3(a) of CPC, returnable by 17.01.2024."
7. It is the contention of learned senior counsel appearing for petitioner that from the date of granting the interim order on 24.11.2023, the trial Court extended the said interim order from time to time till 27.1.2025, on the basis of the application for extension of the interim order filed by the plaintiff on every date of hearing. It is contended that on 27.1.2025 due to inadvertence, an application for extension of interim order dated 24.11.2023 was not filed and as such, the interim order dated 24.11.2023 was not extended since 27.1.2025 till date. Pursuant to which, the respondents have again started to telecast, broadcast and publish defamatory statements against the petitioner in the social media, copies of which are produced before the Court.
8. It is contended that on 22.9.2025, the petitioner filed I.A. No.6 under section 151 of CPC seeking to continue the interim order dated 24.11.2023. The trial Court posted the said case for objections to I.A. No.6. Aggrieved by not
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NC: 2025:KHC:45403 WP No. 33446 of 2025 HC-KAR extending the interim order till disposal of I.A. No.6, the petitioner/plaintiff is before this Court.
9. It is the contention of learned senior counsel for petitioner that due to inadvertence, an application for extension of the interim order dated 24.11.2023 was not filed on 27.1.2025, due to which the interim order was not extended. He contends that the trial Court neither discontinued the interim order nor vacated the interim order. Under such circumstances, it is contended that the interim order continues to operate till it is recalled, vacated or modified or specifically mentioned by the Court that the same is not extended. In support of his contention, learned senior counsel relies on the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Centre of Excellence in Disaster Mitigation and Management, IIT, Roorkee, District Haridwar -vs- M/s S.K. Dynamics Pvt. Ltd., and others reported in 2016 SCC OnLine Utt 2234, wherein at paragraph-13 it is held as under:
"13. On this controversy, it would be quite germane to refer the judgment of this very Court passed on 9.8.2016 in Civil Revision No.42/2016 & connected matters, wherein a number of precedents
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NC: 2025:KHC:45403 WP No. 33446 of 2025 HC-KAR have been discussed, like Ram Abhilakh Misra v. Cane Commissioner, ARC 1998 (1) 526; Ashiq Ali v. Mohammad Shakeel, 1985 LCD 363 and Vishnu Dutt Sharma v. Regional Joint Director of Education, Agra, 2001 Supreme (ALL) 33, and it was held that time bound stay orders do not cease to be effective by efflux of time. The result in law is that time bound order has the same effect as an order till further orders of the Court. In other words, it continues to operate till it is recalled, vacated or modified or specifically mentioned by the Court "not extended."
10. I am in agreement with the learned senior counsel for the petitioner/plaintiff that once the interim order is granted by the trial Court, unless the same is vacated by the Court or a specific order is made that it is not extended, the interim order continues to operate till it is recalled, vacated or modified or specifically mentioned by the Court that the same is not extended. It is always open to the trial Court to accept the objections of the respondents/defendants and hear both sides and extend/vacate/modify the interim order. Till then, the interim order ought to have been continued.
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11. However since the interim order is not extended from 27.01.2025 till this order, any action by the respondents during this period cannot be contended to disobedience of the order.
12. In view of the above, this Court deems it appropriate to pass the following:
ORDER
i) The petition is allowed.
ii) The trial Court shall continue the interim order granted on 24.11.2023 in O.S. No.7598/2023 till disposal of I.A. No.6 filed under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, for extension of the interim order.
iii) It is made clear that the petitioner/plaintiff will not have liberty to initiate any action against the respondents/defendants for disobedience of the interim order during the period of non-extension of the interim order dated 24.11.2023.
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iv) It is needless to state that this Court has not expressed any opinion on merits of the application or the suit.
v) It is made clear that the trial Court is also at liberty to vacate/modify the interim order on merits.
Sd/-
(PRADEEP SINGH YERUR) JUDGE GSS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 27