Allahabad HC Orders Meta, Google to Remove Defamatory Content on Swami Rambhadracharya

The Allahabad High Court, Lucknow Bench, on October 8, 2025, directed Meta Platforms, Inc. and Google LLC to remove objectionable content targeting Padma Vibhushan awardee and spiritual leader Swami Rambhadracharya within 48 hours of receiving specific URL links from his followers. 

A division bench comprising Justices Shekhar B. Saraf and Prashant Kumar passed the order in a petition filed by Sharad Chandra Srivastava and seven others, all disciples of Swami Rambhadracharya, who had approached the court seeking removal of defamatory, abusive, and insulting material circulated on social media platforms against the spiritual leader. 

A video was uploaded on August 29, 2025, by Gorakhpur-based YouTuber Shashank Shekhar, who runs the channel Bedhadak Khabar, titled “Rambhadracharya par Khulasa, 16 saal pahle kya hua tha”. The video, widely circulated across YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Google, allegedly contained derogatory remarks against the 74-year-old spiritual scholar, who has been blind since infancy and is widely respected for his contributions to Sanskrit literature, disability rights, and education.

In the earlier proceedings on September 17, 2025, court had issued directions to Facebook India, Instagram India, Google, and YouTube to immediately take down the defamatory content and ensure compliance through their grievance redressal officers. The court had then observed that despite detailed representations and a cease-and-desist notice served by the petitioners on September 3, neither the authorities nor the platforms had acted. Court had also instructed the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Lucknow, to initiate proceedings against the YouTuber under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, noting that the material prima facie warranted intervention.

When the matter was taken up again on October 8, the counsel appearing for Meta Platforms submitted that the company could not comply with the court’s previous direction without receiving the specific URLs of the objectionable content.

The division bench accepted the submission and directed the petitioners to provide the links, making it clear that once the URLs are furnished, Meta Platforms must take down the content within 48 hours.

Court also directed the petitioners to supply any additional URLs to Google LLC for removal, apart from those already listed in the writ petition. Counsel representing Google informed the court that the link mentioned in the petition had already been deleted.

On the issue of state action, Additional Chief Standing Counsel Pankaj Khare, appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh, informed the bench that pursuant to the earlier order, a notice had been issued to the YouTuber by the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), requiring him to appear before the Deputy Commissioner on October 18, 2025.

Court granted the respondents three weeks to file their counter-affidavits and allowed the petitioners one additional week to submit rejoinders. The matter has been listed for further hearing on November 11, 2025.

Case Title: Sharad Chandra Srivastava 7 Others Vs. State Of U.P. Thru. Prin. Secy. Home Deptt. Lko. And 9 Others

Order Date: October 8, 2025

Bench: Justices Shekhar B. Saraf and Prashant Kumar