- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484422026 NC: 2026:KHC:37827 WP No. 22071 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.22071 OF 2026 (GM-CPC) BETWEEN: HIS HOLINESS SRI. VIDYABHINAVA VIDYARANYA BHARATHI SWAMIJ AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS PEETHAPATHI OF SRIMAD JAGADGURU SHANKARACHARYA SRI. KUDALI SRINGERI MAHASAMSTHANAM, KUDALI POST, KUDALI, SHIVAMOGGA TALUK & DISTRICT KARNATAKA - 577 227 ALSO AT NO.110 AND 166, V.V. PURAM, RV ROAD, OPPOSITE TO THE WESTERN GATE, LALBAGH, BENGALURU - 560 004 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KESHAV M DATAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. MR. DATTARAJ A DESHPANDE @ MR. ABAHINAVA SHANKAR BHARATI AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, S/O SRI. VIDYASHANKARA NO.74, 1ST CROSS, 7TH MAIN. ASHOKA PILLAR, JAYANAGAR 2ND BLOCK, BENGALURU - 560 011 ALSO AT: KUDALI POST, KUDALI, Digitally signed by SUVARNA T Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484422026 NC: 2026:KHC:37827 WP No. 22071 of 2026 SHIVAMOGA TALUK & DISTRICT KARNATAKA - 577 227 2. MR. CHINMAYA BHAT B S/O B. ANANTHAIAH BHAT AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, “SIR. RAMANAMA JAPADA MANE”, KUDLI, KUDLI POST, KUDLI, SHIVAMOGGA TALUK & DISTRICT. SHIVAMOGGA – 577 227 3. M/S KUDLI SHARADHA FOUNDATION A REGISTERED TRUST HAVING ITS OFFICE AT KUDALI POST, KUDALI, SHIVAMOGA TALUK & DISTRICT KARNATAKA - 577 227 PAN NO.AAFTK5855L REGISTERED UNDER TRUST ACT 4. SRI. SRINIVAS K.C. @ SRINIVAS IYER S/O CHANDRASHEKAR D. AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, KUDALI POST, KUDALI, SHIVAMOGA TALUK & DISTRICT KARNATAKA - 577 227 5. M/S TIMES OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS EDITOR IN CHIEF 136, RESIDENCY ROAD, SHANTHALA NAGAR, ASHOK NAGAR, BENGALURU – 560 025 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 6. M/S SHIVAMOGGA TIMES REPRESENTED BY ITS EDITOR IN CHIEF LEFT SIDE JAIL ROAD, 3RD CROSS, HOSAMANE, - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484422026 NC: 2026:KHC:37827 WP No. 22071 of 2026 SHIVAMOGGA – 577 201 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 7. M/S DECCAN HERALD REPRESENTED BY ITS EDITOR IN CHIEF #75, MG ROAD, BANGALORE – 560 001 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 8. M/S VIJAYA KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS EDITOR IN CHIEF 74/2, SANJANA PLAZA, 4TH & 5TH FLOOR, ELEPHANT ROCK ROAD, JAYANAGAR 3RD BLOCK, BENGALURU - 560 011 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 9. M/S VIJAYA VANI REPRESENTED BY ITS EDITOR IN CHIEF NO.24. SRI. SAIRAM TOWERS, 5TH MAIN ROAD, CHAMRAJPET, BENGALURU – 560 018 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 10. M/S HOSA DIGANTHA REPRESENTED BY ITS EDITOR IN CHIEF FLOOR NO.4, ALLAN BIOTECH, SANGAM ROAD, NEXT TO MANJUSHREE HOSPITAL, SIVANCHETTI GARDENS, BENGALURU – 560 042 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 11. M/S GOOGLE INDIA NO.3, OLD MADRAS ROAD, SADANANDANAGAR, BENNIGANA HALLI, BENGALURU – 560 016 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484422026 NC: 2026:KHC:37827 WP No. 22071 of 2026 12. M/S YOUTUBE INDIA NO.3, OLD MADRAS ROAD, SADANANDANAGAR, BENNIGANA HALLI, BENGALURU – 560 016 REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 13. M/S FACEBOOK PVT. LTD. MICROSOFT SIGNATURE BUILDING, OFF, INTERMEDIATE RING ROAD, EMBASSY GOLF LINKS BUSINESS PARK, DOMLUR, BENGALURU – 560 071 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 14. M/S INSTAGRAM PVT. LTD. MICROSOFT SIGNATURE BUILDING, OFF, INTERMEDIATE RING ROAD, EMBASSY GOLF LINKS BUSINESS PARK, DOMLUR, BENGALURU – 560 071 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 15. M/S X PVT. LTD. (FORMERLY TWITTER INDIA PVT. LTD.) B, OLD MADRAS ROAD, SADANANDANAGAR, BENNIGANA HALLI, BENGALURU – 560 016 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 16. M/S WHAT'S APP PVT. LTD. MICROSOFT SIGNATURE BUILDING, OFF. INTERMEDIATE RING ROAD, EMBASSY GOLF LINKS BUSINESS PARK, DOMLUR, BENGALURU - 560 071 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR REGISTERED UNDER COMPANIES ACT, 1955 …RESPONDENTS - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484422026 NC: 2026:KHC:37827 WP No. 22071 of 2026 (BY SMT. NIKITHA ADINARAYAN, ADVOCATE FOR R1) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER DIRECTING THE HON’BLE XXII ADDITIONAL CITY CIVIL & SESSIONS JUDGE, AT BENGALURU (CCH-7) TO DISPOSE OFF THE I.A NO.7 FILED BY THE PETITIONER PENDING IN O.S NO.4300/2025 ON OR BEFORE 29.07.2026 VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND ETC THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “Wherefore, it is most respectfully prayed that this Hon’ble Court be pleased to: a. Issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order directing the Hon’ble XXII Additional City Civil & Sessions Judge, at Bengaluru (CCH-7) to dispose of I.A.No.7 filed by the petitioner pending in O.S.No.4300/2025 on or before 29.07.2026 vide Annexure-A. b. Issue any other writ, order or direction and grant such other and further reliefs as this Hon’ble Court deems fit and proper under the circumstances of this case, in the interest of justice and equity.” - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010484422026 NC: 2026:KHC:37827 WP No. 22071 of 2026 2. It is the case of the petitioner that an IA was filed on 01.07.2025 seeking police protection, which was not considered by the trial Court. 3. Considering the fact that the application has been pending for more than one year, the trial Court shall consider the same and pass appropriate orders within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of the order. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. All pending I.As., in the writ petition shall stand closed. SD/- (LALITHA KANNEGANTI) JUDGE PKN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 44