New Delhi / Mangaluru– The Supreme Court will hear on Friday a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court’s decision to quash a media gag order related to the controversial Dharmasthala mass burial case.
The High Court, on August 1, overturned a previous civil court order from Bengaluru that had barred media outlets from reporting on the case. The ban was initially imposed after concerns over “defamatory content” being circulated online, particularly targeting the Dharmasthala temple and its managing family.
Appearing before a bench led by Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, an advocate claimed that nearly 8,000 YouTube channels were spreading defamatory material against the temple and pressed for urgent listing of the appeal against the High Court’s order.
Harshendra Kumar D, Secretary of the Dharmasthala temple trust, filed the petition in the apex court, seeking the removal of content he alleges is libelous and damaging to the Heggade family, which manages the temple.
CJI Gavai remarked, “I think it’s already listed for tomorrow,” in response to the listing request.
The gag order was originally issued on the basis of Kumar’s defamation suit, despite no direct mention of him or the temple trust in any official FIRs related to the alleged crimes.
On July 23, the CJI-led bench had declined to hear a related petition by the YouTube channel Third Eye, which had challenged the sweeping interim gag order requiring over 390 media outlets to remove nearly 9,000 links tied to the case.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has stated that the SIT probe must conclude before drawing any conclusions regarding the alleged murders and illegal burials of women in Dharmasthala.