- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44227-DB WP No. 3155 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 3155 OF 2024 (GM-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: 1. THE LEGAL ATTORNEYS AND BARRISTERS LAW FIRM (REPRESENTED THROUGH ITS ASSOCIATE ADVOCATE) (MR MOHAMMED SULTAN, ADVOCATE) AGED 29 YEARS THE LEGAL ATTORNEYS AND BARRISTERS No.7, 2ND FLOOR, THALANHI VILLA WALTON ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001 …PETITIONER (BY SRI SREE NARAIN SHA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI HUSSAIN MUEEN FAROOQ,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHONOLOGY (GOVERNMENT OF INDIA) ELECTRONICS NIKETAN 6,CGO COMPLEX LODHI ROAD, NEW DELHI - 110 003 (REP. THROUGH ITS SECRETARY) Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44227-DB WP No. 3155 of 2024 2. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRONICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BIOTECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA BMTC - CENTRAL OFFICES BUILDING TTMC 'B' BLOCK, 4TH FLOOR SHANTHINAGAR, KH ROAD BENGALURU - 560 027 (REP THROUGH ITS SECRETARY) 3. M/S. META PLATFORMS INC FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, THREADS UNIT 28 AND 29 THE EXECUTIVE CENTER LEVEL 18, DLF CYBER CITY BUILDNIG No.5 TOWER A, PHASE III GURGAON - 122 002 (REP. THROUGH ITS PRESIDENT) 4. M/S X TWITTER RMZ INFINTIY TOWER 2 B OLD MADRAS RD SADANANDNAGAR BENNIGANA HALLI BENGALURU KARNATAKA - 560 016 (REP. BY THROUGH ITS PRESIDENT) 5. M/S TELEGRAM MESSENGER PRIMARY BUSINESS CENTRAL TOWERS TOWER A, OFFICE 1003/1004 DUBAI 501919 AE (REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY UAE) No.259, 1ST C MAIN ROAD 12TH CROSS, OPP. TO GD NAIDU HALL NEAR TO JOSE ALLUKKAS JEWELLERY MAHALAKSHMIPURAM BANGALORE - 560 086 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44227-DB WP No. 3155 of 2024 6. M/S LINKEDIN 7TH FLOOR, TOWER A GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY PARK DEVARABISANAHALLI RD NEXT TO INTEL, ADARSH PALM RETREAT BELLANDUR, BENGALURU KARNATAKA - 560 103 7. M/S TUMBLR 60, 29TH STREET No.343, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94110 USA (REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY) UNITED STATES OF AMERICA EMBASSY HSWP+MQQ, PANCHSHEEL MARG SHANTIPATH, CHANAKYAPURI NEW DELHI, DELHI - 110 021 8. M/S REDDIT 548, MARKET ST SAN FRANSICO USA (REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY) UNITES STATE OF AMERICA EMBASSY H5WP +MQQ PANCHSHEEL MARG SHANTIPATH, CHANAKYAPURI NEW DELHI, DELHI - 110 021 9. M/S ONLYFANS 85, GREAT PORTLAND STREET LONDON UNITED KINGDOM (REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY) BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSION BENGALURU 5TH FLOOR, NORTH TOWER SAFINA TOWERS, 3 ALI ASKER RD VASANTH NAGAR - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44227-DB WP No. 3155 of 2024 BENGALURU KARNATAKA - 560 052 10. M/S BRAZZERS 11025 WESTLAKE DR. CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINE 28273, US (REP. THROUGH ITS EMBASSY) UNITED STATE OF AMERICA EMBASSY H5WP+MQQ PANCHSHEEL MARG SHANTIPATH, CHANAKYAPURI NEW DELHI, DELHI - 110 021 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHANTHI BHUSHAN H., DSGI FOR R-1 & SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-2) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT/DIRECTION/ORDER TO THE GOVERNMENT RESPONDENT NO.1 AND 2 TO MAKE A BAN OF SUCH AS ABOVE MENTIONED WEBSITES (ONLY FANS, PORNHUB, BRAZZERS ETC). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, praying that the respondents be directed to ban certain websites, which have inappropriate content. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:44227-DB WP No. 3155 of 2024 2. The petitioner alleges that certain websites and apps are displaying nudity and pornography in violation of their own guidelines and policy. 3. The learned Deputy Solicitor General submits that a similar issue is being considered by the Supreme Court. In any event, he submits that the issues raised are already under examination of the concerned authorities. 4. In view of the above, we do not consider it apposite to entertain the present Public Interest Litigation at this stage. The same is accordingly disposed of. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE SD, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9