The Allahabad High Court has taken a strong stand against online defamation, directing Meta Platforms Inc., which owns Facebook and Instagram, to remove content targeting Swami Ram Bhadracharya Ji Maharaj within 48 hours once the URLs are provided.
The case was brought by eight devoted followers of the Padma Vibhushan awardee, who claimed that social media posts and videos were circulating maliciously, tarnishing the saint’s image. According to the petition, a video uploaded in late August by a Gorakhpur-based YouTuber contained abusive and derogatory statements about Swami Ji. Despite repeated complaints to authorities, the content remained online, prompting the legal action.
During Wednesday's hearing, the Bench, comprising Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Prashant Kumar, noted that the social media companies could act only after the petitioners provided specific links.
"Once the URL information is provided to Meta Platforms, Inc., the link should be taken down within a period of 48 hours," the court recorded.
The court also noted progress on other fronts. Google had already removed one of the reported videos, and the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities had issued a notice summoning the YouTuber involved for a hearing later this month. The judges emphasized that authorities have a duty to protect an individual’s reputation under Article 21 of the Constitution and ensure that defamatory material does not circulate unchecked online.
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The petitioners, represented by Advocate Ranjana Agnihotri, welcomed the court’s directions. The Bench granted all parties three weeks to file their counter-affidavits and allowed petitioners a week to respond, with the next hearing scheduled for November 11, 2025.
In essence, the court made it clear: social media platforms cannot remain passive while defamatory content spreads, and individuals reputations, especially of prominent figures like Swami Ji, deserve swift protection.
