Kerala High Court Directs Facebook-India To File Compliance Affidavit On Removal Of Offensive Post Against Asianet News Editor
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed Facebook-India to submit an affidavit regarding compliance of its earlier order that ordered removal of an offending Facebook post made by a former sub-court judge against Executive Editor of Asianet News Network Sindhu Sooryakumar.“The 4th respondent is directed to file an affidavit as to how and in what manner the orders of this Court...
The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed Facebook-India to submit an affidavit regarding compliance of its earlier order that ordered removal of an offending Facebook post made by a former sub-court judge against Executive Editor of Asianet News Network Sindhu Sooryakumar.
“The 4th respondent is directed to file an affidavit as to how and in what manner the orders of this Court dated 17/11/2023 and 24/11/2023 have been complied with.”, Justice Mohammed Nias CP said.
Sooryakumar had registered a complaint against the former judge under Section 354 A(1)(iv) IPC (making sexually colored remarks) and Section 67 (punishment for publishing or transmitting obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.
The court had impleaded the former judge as a respondent in the present petition.
Sooryakumar's counsel submitted before the court that despite order dated November 17, 2023, the impugned Facebook post was not removed in entirety. It was stated that the post was still accessible outside India and had been moved only from India.
On the other hand, the Public Prosecutor submitted that a compliance report was being filed.
Based on these submissions, the court directed Facebook India to submit an affidavit showing how and in what manner the court order dated November 17, 2023 had been complied with.
Advocates VV Nandagopal Nambiar, Preeja P Vijayan, Smitha (Ezhupunna) and Chitra Johnson appeared for Sooryakumar
Advocate Tejas Karia appeared for respondent No.4/Facebook India
Case Title: Mrs. Sindhu Suryakumar v. State of Kerala and Ors., W.P.(C) No.34989/2023