Karnataka High Court
The Legal Attorneys And Barristers Law ... vs Union Of India on 4 November, 2025
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WP No. 3155 of 2024
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
WRIT PETITION NO. 3155 OF 2024 (GM-RES-PIL)
BETWEEN:
1. THE LEGAL ATTORNEYS AND
BARRISTERS LAW FIRM
(REPRESENTED THROUGH ITS
ASSOCIATE ADVOCATE)
(MR MOHAMMED SULTAN, ADVOCATE)
AGED 29 YEARS
THE LEGAL ATTORNEYS AND BARRISTERS
No.7, 2ND FLOOR, THALANHI VILLA
WALTON ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 001
...PETITIONER
Digitally
signed by (BY SRI SREE NARAIN SHA, ADVOCATE FOR
SRIDEVI S SRI HUSSAIN MUEEN FAROOQ,ADVOCATE)
Location:
High Court AND:
of Karnataka
1. UNION OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND
INFORMATION TECHONOLOGY
(GOVERNMENT OF INDIA)
ELECTRONICS NIKETAN
6,CGO COMPLEX
LODHI ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110 003
(REP. THROUGH ITS SECRETARY)
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2. STATE OF KARNATAKA
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA
BMTC - CENTRAL OFFICES BUILDING
TTMC 'B' BLOCK, 4TH FLOOR
SHANTHINAGAR, KH ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 027
(REP THROUGH ITS SECRETARY)
3. M/S. META PLATFORMS INC
FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, THREADS
UNIT 28 AND 29
THE EXECUTIVE CENTER
LEVEL 18, DLF CYBER CITY
BUILDNIG No.5
TOWER A, PHASE III GURGAON - 122 002
(REP. THROUGH ITS PRESIDENT)
4. M/S X TWITTER
RMZ INFINTIY TOWER 2
B OLD MADRAS RD
SADANANDNAGAR
BENNIGANA HALLI
BENGALURU KARNATAKA - 560 016
(REP. BY THROUGH ITS PRESIDENT)
5. M/S TELEGRAM MESSENGER
PRIMARY BUSINESS CENTRAL TOWERS
TOWER A, OFFICE 1003/1004
DUBAI 501919 AE
(REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY UAE)
No.259, 1ST C MAIN ROAD
12TH CROSS, OPP. TO GD NAIDU HALL
NEAR TO JOSE ALLUKKAS JEWELLERY
MAHALAKSHMIPURAM
BANGALORE - 560 086
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6. M/S LINKEDIN
7TH FLOOR, TOWER A
GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY PARK
DEVARABISANAHALLI RD
NEXT TO INTEL, ADARSH PALM RETREAT
BELLANDUR, BENGALURU
KARNATAKA - 560 103
7. M/S TUMBLR
60, 29TH STREET
No.343, SAN FRANCISCO,
CA 94110 USA
(REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA EMBASSY
HSWP+MQQ, PANCHSHEEL MARG
SHANTIPATH, CHANAKYAPURI
NEW DELHI, DELHI - 110 021
8. M/S REDDIT
548, MARKET ST SAN FRANSICO
USA
(REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY)
UNITES STATE OF AMERICA EMBASSY
H5WP +MQQ
PANCHSHEEL MARG
SHANTIPATH, CHANAKYAPURI
NEW DELHI, DELHI - 110 021
9. M/S ONLYFANS
85, GREAT PORTLAND STREET
LONDON UNITED KINGDOM
(REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY)
BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSION
BENGALURU
5TH FLOOR, NORTH TOWER
SAFINA TOWERS, 3
ALI ASKER RD
VASANTH NAGAR
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BENGALURU
KARNATAKA - 560 052
10. M/S BRAZZERS
11025 WESTLAKE DR. CHARLOTTE
NORTH CAROLINE 28273, US
(REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY)
UNITED STATE OF AMERICA EMBASSY
H5WP+MQQ
PANCHSHEEL MARG
SHANTIPATH, CHANAKYAPURI
NEW DELHI, DELHI - 110 021
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. SHANTHI BHUSHAN H., DSGI FOR R-1 &
SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-2)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN
THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE
WRIT/DIRECTION/ORDER TO THE GOVERNMENT
RESPONDENT NO.1 AND 2 TO MAKE A BAN OF SUCH AS
ABOVE MENTIONED WEBSITES (ONLY FANS, PORNHUB,
BRAZZERS ETC).
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS
UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)
1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, praying that the respondents be directed to ban certain websites, which have inappropriate content. -5-
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2. The petitioner alleges that certain websites and apps are displaying nudity and pornography in violation of their own guidelines and policy.
3. The learned Deputy Solicitor General submits that a similar issue is being considered by the Supreme Court. In any event, he submits that the issues raised are already under examination of the concerned authorities.
4. In view of the above, we do not consider it apposite to entertain the present Public Interest Litigation at this stage. The same is accordingly disposed of.
Sd/-
(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/-
(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE SD, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9