Kerala High Court: Meta Ordered To Block Sabarimala Video Over Religious Offence

• The Kerala High Court ordered Meta Platforms to temporarily block a social media video containing derogatory remarks against Sabarimala deities.
• Justice G Girish issued the interim order in response to a plea by activist Rahul K Easwar.
• The court found the video's continued availability could hurt the religious sentiments of devotees.
• The directive specifically mandates blocking access to the video at a particular URL.
• The case, *Rahul K Easwar v State of Kerala & ors*, is scheduled for its next hearing on October 6.

This sets a precedent where courts can enforce Meta Platforms content removal orders, especially when dealing with derogatory religious content injunctions, thereby shaping the landscape of online content moderation.

The Kerala High Court has issued a significant directive compelling Meta Platforms to temporarily restrict public access to a video circulating on its social media platforms. This interim order, delivered by Justice G Girish on Thursday, specifically targets content deemed scandalous and indecent, containing remarks offensive to the deities of the revered Sabarimala temple. The judicial action stems from a petition filed by Rahul K Easwar, a prominent right-wing activist and public commentator, who sought the immediate removal of the objectionable video and further action against Sunny M Kapikad, identified as the Dalit activist responsible for the derogatory comments.

The case, formally titled *Rahul K Easwar v State of Kerala & ors*, highlights the growing legal scrutiny faced by social media companies regarding content moderation in India. Easwar's plea not only aimed at the immediate removal of the video but also sought broader directives for state authorities to block and disable public access to such objectionable material across various platforms. This initial ruling, however, focuses squarely on Meta's obligation to act on the specific video identified in the petition, marking a direct intervention by the judiciary into content availability.

In arriving at its decision, the Kerala High Court meticulously reviewed the contested video. Following this examination, the court concluded that the continued availability of the content on social media platforms posed a significant risk of offending the religious sentiments of devotees. Justice G Girish's interim order explicitly noted that the allegations made by the petitioner regarding the scandalous and indecent nature of the speech concerning the Sabarimala deities were found to be substantiated. The court underscored that allowing the video to remain accessible would undeniably cause distress and hurt the religious beliefs of worshippers.

Crucially, the directive issued to Meta Platforms, identified as the fourth respondent in the proceedings, mandates the temporary blocking and disabling of public access to the video at a specific URL. The court was careful to clarify that this interim injunction is precisely confined to that particular Uniform Resource Locator, indicating a targeted approach rather than a sweeping ban on all related content. The matter is scheduled for further deliberation, with the next hearing set for October 6, suggesting that this temporary measure could be subject to review or made permanent depending on subsequent proceedings and arguments.

This ruling by the Kerala High Court regarding the **Kerala HC Meta Sabarimala video block** carries significant implications for social media companies operating within India, particularly concerning content deemed offensive to religious sentiments. The **Kerala High Court social media blocking** order demonstrates the judiciary's willingness to intervene directly and compel platforms like Meta to remove specific content. This sets a precedent where courts can enforce **Meta Platforms content removal order**s, especially when dealing with **derogatory religious content injunction**s, thereby shaping the landscape of online content moderation.

For legal and compliance teams at social media giants, this decision underscores the imperative to establish robust mechanisms for responding to judicial directives concerning content moderation. It reinforces the understanding that platforms can be legally obligated to act swiftly on court orders, particularly in cases involving sensitive religious matters. The interim order by Justice G Girish serves as a clear signal that the Indian legal system is prepared to exercise its authority to protect religious beliefs from content deemed scandalous or indecent, emphasizing the need for platforms to navigate these sensitivities carefully and ensure prompt compliance with judicial mandates.

This ruling sets a precedent for social media platforms like Meta in India, indicating they can be compelled by court order to block specific content deemed offensive or hurtful to religious sentiments. Compliance officers and legal teams for platforms must be aware of their obligations and the judicial power to enforce content removal, while lawyers representing individuals can cite this for seeking injunctions against platforms for objectionable content.

Source: Original reporting via court documents and local media.