Blocking of posts: X Corp challenges Centre’s non-disclosure of orders at Karnataka HC

The matter was heard on Monday by a Division Bench consisting of Acting Chief Justice Dinesh Kumar and Justice Shivashankare Gowda.

The counsel for X Corp, Sajjan Poovayya, told the court that with several of the blocking orders having been upheld by a review committee, they were still not provided with a copy of the orders as they were deemed to be “secret”.

The counsel noted that while the emergency blocking orders could not be easily contested, even in the case of regular blocking orders, around 1,500 pieces of content were removed with a one line order.

With regard to these orders, the counsel questioned how they could be kept secret when the relevant statute stated that reasons had to be recorded.

The advocate of X Corp also pointed out that while there were 10 instances where unblocking of content was ordered, no orders had been received for the cases where the blocking was upheld. He also argued that where the business of X Corp was based on freedom of speech, not providing reasons in such cases would be harmful to them.

The counsel also noted that the review committee might have made observations that would help the case of X Corp. The matter is set to be heard further on February 12.