Karnataka High Court
Smt. P S Kusuma Latha vs Union Of India on 6 November, 2025
Author: Suraj Govindaraj
Bench: Suraj Govindaraj
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NC: 2025:KHC:45258
WP No. 33480 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ
WRIT PETITION NO. 33480 OF 2025 (GM-RES)
BETWEEN:
SMT. P S KUSUMA LATHA,
W/O SRINIVAS,
AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF LAND RECORDS,
BENGALURU - RURAL DISTRICT,
O/A DC OFFICE, BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT,
VISHWANATHAPURA, DEVANAHALLI,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA - 562110
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. GALAVA KUMAR M V., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. UNION OF INDIA,
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING,
ROOM NO.655, A-WING, SHASTRI BHAVAN,
Digitally signed NEW DELHI-110 001
by SHWETHA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY
RAGHAVENDRA
Location: HIGH
COURT OF 2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF HOME,
VIDHANA SOUDHA,
DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU-560 001
REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
3. THE SECRETARY,
REGISTRATION OF DIGITAL MEDIA CONTENT
REGULATORY COUNCIL
SHASTRI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI-110001
4. THE CHAIRPERSON,
-2-
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WP No. 33480 of 2025
HC-KAR
THE NEWS BOARDCASTING &
DIGITAL STANDARD AUTHORITY
MANTEC HOUSE, C-56/5, 2ND FLOOR, SECTOR-62
NOIDA-201301.
5. THE PUBLISHERS AND BROADCASTERS
WELFARE ASSOCIATION OF KARNATAKA
C/O PRESS CLUB, BENGALURU-560001
REP BY ITS SECRETARY
6. YOUTUBE LLC
C/O GOOGLE INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED,
3RD FLOOR, RMZ INFINITY, OLD MADRAS ROAD,
E. NO. 3, SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ROAD,
BENGALURU - 560008
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
ALSO AT
YOUTUBE LIC HAVING ITS OFFICE AT
NO.901, CHERRY AVE, SANBRUNO, CA-94066,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY,
PAULIENE SELVANANDA
7. GOOGLE LLC
NO.3, 3RD, 4TH AND 5TH FLOOR,
RMZ INFINITY TOWER-E,
OLD MADRAS ROAD,
SWAMI VIVEKANANDA ROAD,
BENGALURU-560 008
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
8. META PLATFORMS INC
FACEBOOK & INSTAGRAM INDIA
HAVING ITS OFFICE AT
UNIT NOS. 1203 AND 1204,
LEVEL-12, BUILDING NO.20,
RAHEJA MINDSPACE, CYBERABAD,
MADHAPUR, HITECH CITY, HYDERABAD,
KARNOOL-500 081
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
ALSO AT
META PLATFORMS INC.
HAVING ITS OFFICE AT NO. 1,
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WP No. 33480 of 2025
HC-KAR
META WAY, MENLO PARK,
CALIFORNIA-94025,
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
REP. BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY
KATHRYN DUVALL
ALSO AT:
HAVING ITS OFFICE NO. 1601, WILLOW ROAD,
MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA-94025
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
REP. BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY
ALSO AT:
INSTAGRAM LLC,
NO. 110, LINKWAY ESTATE,
NEW LINK ROAD,
MALAD (WEST), MUMBAI,
MAHARASTRA-400 064.
ALSO AT:
INSTRAGRAM LLC
IG INFOTECH INDIA PVT. LTD.
EMBASSY GOLF LINK BUISNESS PARK,
CHELLAGHATTA, BENGALURU-560071
REP BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR
9. WHATSAPP LLC,
1 MENLO PARK, CALIFORNIA - 94025
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
ALSO AT
WHATSAPP LLC,
SALARPURIA SATTVA KNOWLEDGE CITY,
LEVEL 1 UNIT 2, PLOT NO.2,
INORBIT MALL ROAD,
HI-TECH CITY, HYDERABAD, T G 500081,
INDIA
ALSO AT
WHATSAPP LLC
UNIT B8 AND B10, LEVEL 18,
DLF, CYBER CITY, BUILDING NO. 5,
TOWER A, PHASE - II, GURGAON -
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HARYANA - 122002
10. SRI. SUNIL M,
AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS,
STATE GENERAL SECRETARY,
ALUR DUDDANAHALLY, GRAMA AND ANCHE,
KUNDANA HOBLI, DEVANAHALLI TALUK,
BENGALURU - RURAL DISTRICT,
KARNATAKA 562110.
WHATS UP NO - 9740154159
11. NIKHIL M,
DUDDANAHALI VILLAGE,
ALURU DUDDANAHALI POST,
KUNDANA HOBLI, DEVANAHALLI TALUK,
DEVANAHALLI, KARNATAKA 562110.
PH -9740154159
HAVING FACEBOOK LINK OF HTTPS
//FACEBOOK.COM/NIKHIL.CHAKRAVARTHI.37
12. BTV NEWS KANNADA,
BTV KANNADA PRIVATE LIMITED,
NO.38, MAHAGANAPATI NAGAR,
WEST OF CHORD ROAD,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560010.
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR.
ALSO AT
NO.32/1/2, CRESCENT ROAD
NEXT TO GOLDFINCH HOTEL,
BENGALURU, KARNATAKA - 560001.
HAVING FACEBOOK LINK OF
HTTPS //FACEBOOK.COM./BTV KANNADA,
HAVING INSTAGRAM LINK OF
HTTPS //INSTAGRAM.COM./BTV KANNADA
HAVING YOUTUBE LINK OF
HTTPS //YOUTUBE.COM./BTV KANNADA
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH., AGA FOR R2 & R5;
SRI. H. SHANTHI BHUSHAN., DSGI., FOR R1, R3 & R4)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227
OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OR
DIRECTION OR ORDER TO R1 TO 9 TO DELETE/ BLOCK R10 TO 12
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NC: 2025:KHC:45258
WP No. 33480 of 2025
HC-KAR
CHANNELS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE ORDERS OF THE HONBLE COURT AND ETC.
THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ
ORAL ORDER
1. Sri.H.Shanthi Bhushan, learned DSGI is directed to accept notice for Respondent No.1 and learned AGA accepts notice for Respondent No.2. Notice to other respondents is dispensed with.
2. The Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:
a. Issue a writ or direction or order to Respondent No.1 to 9 to delete/block Respondent Nos. 10 to 12 channels and Social Media Accounts in Accordance with the orders of the Hon'ble Court, and b. Grant such other consequential reliefs as this Hon'ble Court may deem just and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case.
3. After arguing for sometime, learned counsel for the petitioner seeks liberty to withdraw the above petition and file appropriate proceeding before -6- NC: 2025:KHC:45258 WP No. 33480 of 2025 HC-KAR appropriate forum. Reserving such liberty, the Writ Petition stands disposed.
SD/-
(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE PRS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 32