The Delhi High Court today directed the Union Government’s Grievance Appellate Committee (GAC) to expeditiously decide within 15 days on an appeal seeking the removal of a controversial YouTube video uploaded by popular content creator Dhruv Rathee. The video is alleged to be defamatory, inflammatory, and hurtful to religious sentiments.
The legal action stems from an appeal filed by lawyer Amita Sachdeva, who has also initiated a criminal case against Rathee. Sachdeva’s plea objects to a video uploaded on March 21 titled “Can Hindus eat BEEF? Kerala Story 2 Exposed”. In the video, Rathee—who commands a massive following of 32.4 million subscribers on YouTube—discusses dietary habits in ancient Hindu scriptures. He argues that ancient texts and sages mention Hindu deities, including Lord Ram, Sita, and Lord Krishna, consuming meat and alcohol.
Sachdeva has approached the court praying for a direction to the GAC to either decide her pending appeal or order the immediate removal of the content, which she describes as highly derogatory and communally sensitive.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma directed the GAC—a body functioning under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) that handles appeals against digital platforms regarding content complaints—to resolve the matter within the stipulated 15-day window.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma, appearing on behalf of the Union Government, strongly criticized the content of the video. The ASG argued that the video contains deeply disparaging and intolerant materials against Hindu Gods.
He maintained that social media intermediaries like YouTube ought to have exercised due diligence and immediately removed what he termed “objectionable and hate-inciting content.”
Citing a past division bench judgment, the ASG stated that the onus is on the intermediary to identify and act when content is harmful. He asserted that YouTube should have taken down the video voluntarily; otherwise, a judicial order directing the removal must follow.
