Kerala HC petition seeks Meta video takedown over alleged remarks
An activist has filed a petition with the Kerala High Court seeking the removal of a video from Meta's platforms, alleging it contains vulgar remarks about deities. The plea bypasses established grievance redressal mechanisms.
A petition has been filed before the Kerala High Court requesting the removal of a video from Meta's platforms. Activist Rahul K. Easwar is seeking court orders to remove, block, and restrict access to the video, alleging it contains vulgar and sexually explicit remarks about the Sabarimala deities, Lord Ayyappa and Malikappurathamma.
Easwar has also requested that a criminal case be registered against writer and activist Sunny M. Kapikad, whom he names as the speaker of the alleged remarks. This case is being heard by Justice G. Girish, with Meta Platforms, state authorities, and the cybercrime police station among the respondents.
The petition notably bypasses the three-tiered grievance redressal mechanism established under India's Information Technology (IT) Rules. This framework includes a grievance officer at the platform level, a Grievance Appellate Committee, and the government's Sahyog portal for law-enforcement takedown notices. A writ court order, while a constitutional remedy, does not produce a statutory record or published reasoning for assessment within this framework.
The court directed the Public Prosecutor on August 31 to obtain instructions from state authorities and the cybercrime police. Further proceedings on September 7 allowed for corrections to the application and permitted notice to Meta via email or its standing counsel. The matter is scheduled for further consideration on September 10, including a decision on interim relief.