JUDGMENT

MANMOHAN, ACJ: (ORAL)

CM APPL. 25089/2024

1. The present application has been filed by the Petitioners seeking a direction to Respondent No. 2 to restore its Instagram handle “@bazaarindia” (‘IG account’). The Petitioner No. 1’s IG account was disabled by Respondent No. 2 on 15th March, 2024 and its appeal against the said action was rejected by Respondent No. 2 vide e-mail dated 27th March, 2024. In these facts, the Petitioner filed the writ petition aggrieved by the actions of Respondent No. 2.

2. This Court vide interlocutory order dated 04th April, 2024 granted liberty to the Petitioner No. 1 herein to avail its remedy of appeal against Respondent No. 2’s decisions dated 15th March 2024 and 27th March, 2024 before the Grievance Appellate Committee constituted by Respondent No. 1 under Rule 3-A of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 (‘Rules 2021’).

3. In accordance with the said order, the Petitioner No. 1 filed an appeal on 5th April, 2024, however, the Grievance Appellate Committee vide its order dated 15th April, 2024 rejected the appeal on the ground that the Petitioner No. 1 has not approached the Grievance Offi