SWAMI RAMDEV Vs. FACEBOOK, INC.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) I.A. 855/2019

(2.) The allegation of the Plaintiffs is that various defamatory remarks and information including videos, based on a book titled 'Godman to Tycoon - the Untold Story of Baba Ramdev' are being disseminated over the Defendants' platforms. The Plaintiffs submit that the defamatory content contained in the said book was subject matter of a judgment passed in CM (M) 556/2018, wherein a ld. Single Judge of this Court had restrained the publisher and author from publishing, distributing and selling the book without deleting the offending portions. The allegations contained in the videos, which have been uploaded on the Defendants' platforms are in fact the defamatory allegations contained in the book which have already been directed to be removed. The said judgment was challenged by the publisher before the Supreme Court and the same is pending. It is however submitted that there is no stay of the order/judgement.

(3.) The suit was listed on 21st January, 2019, on which date, notice was directed to be served on the Defendants. On 24th January, 2019, after hearing ld. Counsels for the parties, the following order was passed: