3 weeks ago
Google withheld Dhruv Rathee video in India: Delhi court told
A famous YouTuber named Dhruv Rathee made a video.
In the video, he reportedly said that some Hindu gods and goddesses, including Lord Ram, Sita and Lord Krishna, ate meat and drank alcohol.
Some people were sad and upset by these words.
A lawyer named Amita Sachdeva asked a court in Delhi to have the video removed.
The court asked a special government group, called the Grievance Appellate Committee, to decide, and that group told Google to hide the video in India.
Today, people in India cannot watch the video on YouTube, but people outside India can still watch it, and people in India can too if they use a secret internet tool called a VPN.
The lawyer says that is not enough and wants the video removed in the whole world.
Google says the question of worldwide removal is already being handled by another part of the court.
The lawyer also wants copies of the video uploaded by other YouTubers to be taken down.
The court said it will talk about all of this again in September.
Google told the Delhi High Court it withheld Dhruv Rathee's YouTube video in India only, not globally, over alleged remarks on Hindu deities.
The video allegedly said Hindu deities Lord Ram, Sita and Lord Krishna consumed meat and alcohol, hurting religious sentiments.
Google said the block followed an order from the Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC); the petitioner called the India-only action 'partial compliance.'
Petitioner advocate Amita Sachdeva sought the video's global removal, saying it remains viewable outside India and via VPN within India.
The court adjourned the matter to September; Google cited a pending Division Bench case on global content injunctions.
- Who
- YouTube creator Dhruv Rathee; petitioner advocate Amita Sachdeva; Google; Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma; Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma; and the Delhi High Court.
- What
- The court was told Google withheld Rathee's video in India, not globally, over alleged remarks on Hindu deities, and heard a plea for its worldwide removal.
- Where
- Delhi High Court, India.
- When
- Tuesday's hearing; the video was posted on March 21; the GAC directed removal on July 15; the matter was adjourned to September.
- Why
- The video allegedly said Hindu deities Lord Ram, Sita and Lord Krishna consumed meat and alcohol, prompting a petition over hurt religious sentiments.
Petitioner / government position
Google's position
Global removal of the video
Petitioner / government position
The video should be removed worldwide because it can still be viewed outside India and inside India through a VPN.
Google's position
The question of global removal is already pending before a Division Bench of the High Court, so it should not be decided in this case.
Copies uploaded by other YouTubers
Petitioner / government position
Sachdeva should be allowed to approach Google to remove other YouTubers' copies of the video.
Google's position
Each re-upload creates a separate cause of action, so a separate legal plea would have to be filed for each.
Scope of the removal order
Petitioner / government position
ASG Chetan Sharma argued the order should apply across the board since nobody claims the video can pass muster; otherwise it is an 'endless exercise.'
Google's position
Google resisted extending the order to other uploads, insisting on separate legal proceedings for each case.
Key facts
- YouTube creator
- Dhruv Rathee (32.4 million subscribers)
- Video title
- Can Hindus Eat Beef? | Kerala Story 2 Exposed
- Video upload date
- March 21
- Action taken
- Video withheld in India only, not globally
- Ordering body
- Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) under MeitY
- GAC directive
- Take-down within 24 hours (July 15)
- Petitioner
- Advocate Amita Sachdeva (also filed a criminal case)
- Next hearing
- September
Quotes
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma
Delhi High Court judge
“"Despite the statutory mandate to decide the appeal within 30 days, the GAC has failed to dispose of the same. The offending video continues to remain publicly accessible on YouTube and is causing continuous injury to the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus."”
livemint.com
“"Issue regarding the global injunction is already pending before the division bench. Whatever they could do, they have already done."”
livemint.com
Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma
Indian government legal officer representing the government
“"Once a video which is by its very nature has been objected to, and it is nobody’s case that it can pass any muster then the order should apply across the board."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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