Delhi Court Tells Google India To Remove Offensive Videos Against Sikhism Featuring Sakshi Bhardwaj In 7 Days [Read Order]

A Delhi court on Thursday directed Google India to remove all videos featuring Delhi girl Sakshi Bhardwaj making offensive remarks and hate speeches against Sikh gurus and Sikh religion in general within 7 days.

Civil judge Jasjeet Kaur granted ex-parte interim injunction in favour of petitioner GS Walia, chief commercial inspector in Northern Railways, who had moved court against Google India for removal of the offensive videos in circulation on YouTube and injunction against uploading similar videos.

Walia had moved the court after writing in vain to Google India, which has acquired YouTube.

Walia's counsel Gurmeet Singh told the court that the offensive videos featuring Sakshi Bhardwaj, said to be a resident of Ber Sarai in south Delhi, contains hate speeches and offensive remarks against Sikh Gurus and Sikhism and have been on social media for many days and is likely to spread communal disharmony.

Walia had come across the videos in August.

Advocate Gurmeet Singh also played some of the videos for the court on his laptop.

"After going through the contents of the plaint and watching videos, it prima facie appears that uploader of the videos has made derogatory remarks against Sikh Gurus and their family members and its followers are likely to feel great insult of the religious sentiments by continued circulation of videos of Sakshi Bhardwaj on social media.

"Moreover, social harmony and law and order situation is likely to get adversely affected if defendant number 1 (Google India) is not restrained from publication of derogatory videos," the court observed.

"Accordingly,  I deem it fit to grant ex parte interim injunction in favour of the plaintiff," the court ordered restraining Google India from uploading or publishing any videos containing hate speech and derogatory remarks against any religion and in particular against Sikh religion.

"Google India is also directed to remove all such videos featuring Sakshi Bhardwaj already in circulation on social media including videos on YouTube containing hate speeches about Sikh Gurus within 7 days," the court ordered.