The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Union government’s Grievance Appellate Committee to decide within 15 days an appeal seeking the removal of a video by YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, in which he claimed that Hindu gods consumed meat, reported Bar and Bench.
The Grievance Appellate Committee deals with the appeals of users against social media intermediaries regarding complaints about online content.
The court’s direction on Friday came on an appeal filed by lawyer Amita Sachdeva about a video Rathee uploaded on YouTube on March 21.
In the video, Rathee discussed dietary habits in Hindu scriptures. He noted that texts have mentioned that deities like Ram and Krishna consumed meat and alcohol.
Sachdeva alleged that the video is derogatory, inflammatory and communally sensitive, reported Live Law.
Appearing for the Union government, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma told the court that YouTube should have taken down the video.
“Either Google [the parent company of YouTube] says they will do it now, or my ladyship may pass a judgement based on what the division bench has said,” said Sharma, referring to an order that held that the social media intermediary should check if any content is harmful and block it.
Sharma added: “He [Google’s counsel] should take it down and say he will not permit such fissiparous content that hurts the sentiments of the majority community.”
The counsel appearing for Google told the court that the company had given its response to Sachdeva and she has already filed an appeal before the Grievance Appellate Committee.
Disposing of the plea, the court told the committee to decide on the appeal within 15 days and said that “any disregard of this order will be taken note of seriously”.
Sachdeva has also filed a criminal complaint against the video before the magistrate court. She had alleged that Rathee distorted Hindu scriptures and “mocked the sanctity of Sanatan Dharma”.
Sanatana Dharma is a term some people use as a synonym for Hinduism.
The metropolitan magistrate has sought an action-taken report from the police, reported Bar and Bench.
Edited by Neerad Pandharipande.
You’ve read Scroll.
Now help sustain it
Scroll is funded by readers, not corporate owners. If you believe our work matters, support our newsroom. Become a member today!
We’re not driven by clicks or corporate interests – just honest, independent reporting. Keep us going. Support Scroll today!