Delhi high court agrees to hear Facebook's appeal against order to globally block access to video defaming Ramdev

The Delhi High Court on Thursday admitted an appeal by Facebook against a single judge’s order directing social media platforms to take down, block or disable on a global basis links to a video containing defamatory allegations against yoga guru Ramdev. The court has fixed December 7 as the date for the final hearing.

A bench of Justice S Muralidhar and Justice Talwant Singh said that it hopes that the arguments would conclude on December 7. The bench also clarified that it would not be passing any interim order, putting on hold the single’s judge’s October 23 direction, since the appeal was listed for final hearing.

Facebook, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, submitted that it should direct Ramdev not to initiate contempt action against it while the appeal was pending. The counsel appearing for Ramdev assured that no contempt action would be initiated against the social media platform.