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The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on Jan 17, a plea objecting against the publication of "highly obnoxious and objectionable posts" on Hindu goddesses on the social media platform of Instagram. 

Earlier the court had sought reply from Instagram and its parent company Facebook Inc, on the plea and was informed that the posts had already been taken down.

Prior to this, vacation bench of Justice Rekha Palli had issued notice and sought replies from Facebook Inc and its subsidiary, Instagram, on the petition. 

The two social media platforms had then submitted that the posts have already been taken down, and that further, in compliance with the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, (IT Rules, 2021) the company had also appointed a Grievance Redressal Officer, already.

The petition preferred by Adv. Aditya Singh Deshwal, stated that the uploaded content not only had abusive language with respect to Hindu goddesses, but also showed them in vulgar representations in the form of cartoons and graphics.

Objecting to Instagram's contention that it has already appointed a Grievance Redressal Officer in terms of the IT Rules 2021, the petitioner also submitted that the issue of compliance by Instagram in letter and spirit, was yet to be examined as one person cannot act as the Grievance Redressal Officer for two Significant Social Media Intermediaries (Facebook and Instagram, in this case) having followers of more than 50 lakh each.

The petitioner also sought for Instagram to preserve all the details associated with such objectionable accounts and place them before the Court for further action. 

Keeping in view the highly sensitive nature of the grievance by the Petitioners, and upon prayers to this effect by the Petitioner's counsel, Sr. Adv. Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Facebook and Instagram had assured the court that the respondents would not disseminate copies of the petition to any third party.

Sr. Adv. G Tushar Rao and Adv. Ayush Saxena had appeared for the petitioner.

Addl. Solicitor General Chetan Sharma and Standing Counsel Harish Vaidyanathan Shankar and Adv. S Bushra Kazim had appeared for the Centre.

Sr. Adv. Mukul Rohatgi, briefed by Advs. Tejas Karia, Ajit Warrier, Pavit Singh Katoch and Gauhar Mirza had appeared for Instagram and Facebook.