The Kerala High Court on Thursday directed Meta to temporarily block public access to a social media video containing scandalous and indecent remarks against Sabarimala deities [Rahul K Easwar v State of Kerala & ors].

Justice G Girish passed the interim order on a plea filed by right-wing activist and public commentator Rahul K Easwar who moved the Court seeking removal of the video and action against the Dalit activist Sunny M Kapikad who made the derogatory comments.

After viewing the objectionable video, the Court observed that the continued availability of the video on social media could hurt the religious sentiments of devotees and passed an interim order restricting access to the video.

"It appears that the allegation of the petitioner herein about the scandalous and indecent speech made by the respondent about the deities of Sabarimala temple is found to be substantiated. In continuance of the above video in the social media platform would definitely hurt the religious beliefs of the worshippers of the aforesaid deity. In the above circumstances, the 4th respondent (Meta Platforms) is hereby directed to temporarily block and disable public access to the above video at the URL (so and so)," the Court added.

Further, the Court clarified that the interim direction was confined to that particular URL.

The matter will be heard next on October 6.

Easwar sought directions to the state authorities to remove, block and disable public access to an objectionable video posted on social media in which Kapikad is alleged to have made the remarks against Sabarimala deities Lord Ayyappa and Malikappurathamma.

The counsel appearing for Easwar told the Court today that he would verify whether the video was available through any other URLs.

The petition was filed through advocates PT Sheejish and Ayonna George.

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