Under Article 226, court can direct police to provide protection and remove provocative social media content, and dispose petition upon assurance of compliance.

J U D G M E N T (ORAL)

1. The petitioners have filed this petition seeking following reliefs:

a) to ensure the safety and security to the family of petitioners by providing adequate police protection as there is grave threat to lives and liberty of the petitioners;

b) Direct the Respondents to take all necessary steps to ensure that no threat, coercion, or harm of any nature is extended to the Petitioners and the witnesses connected with FIR No. 0122/2026, registered at Police Station Uttam Nagar;

c) Direct the Respondents to take immediate and effective action for the identification, removal, and deletion of all threatening, inflammatory, and communally provocative videos pertaining to the incident from all social media platforms, including but not limited to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to ensure that no untoward incident takes place due to the wide circulation of such videos; and

d) Issue appropriate directions to the Respondents to take all preventive and precautionary measures, to ensure that no untoward incident takes place against the Petitioners and the witnesses;

e) Pass such other and further order( s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the present case, in the interest of justice.

2. Learned ASC for the State appearing on advance intimation accepts notice. Learned ASC is accompanied with Ms. Niharika Bhatt, the Additional DCP, Dwarka, Delhi. Learned ASC points out that earlier, an issue pertaining to the unfortunate incident on the basis whereof this petition has been brought, was taken before a Division Bench of this Court by way of W.P.(Crl.) 896/2026 and the same was disposed of by the Division Bench taking note of the previous orders passed therein. The learned Division Bench recorded appreciation for the Delhi Police for the manner in which directions in the said writ petition were implemented.

3. The present petition has been filed, alleging that on 13.04.2026, few unknown women with faces covered threatened the petitioner no. 1 and one of them was identified by petitioner no. 1 as Ms. ‘S’ (name withheld in this order). It is further alleged that on 09.04.2026, husband of Ms. ‘S’ had broken the lock of the gate of a house and he took away the belongings.

4. In the above backdrop, learned ASC submits that the local police is already active and shall ensure best possible protection to the petitioners. The Additional DCP explains that in the lane of residence of the petitioners as well as in the surrounding blocks, CCTV cameras have been installed and police pickets have been created to ensure communal harmony. As regards the petitioners, it is submitted by Additional DCP that there is a police picket just in front of their house.

5. Additionally, the Additional DCP is requested to direct the concerned SHO to provide his personal mobile phone number to the petitioners so that they may contact him at the time of distress.

6. As regards prayer ‘c’ of the petition, the Additional DCP informs that they have already pulled down more than 250 inflammatory videos and contents from social media platforms. Petitioners are directed to furnish specific particulars of such videos or content, if any to the local SHO, who shall forthwith take appropriate action in accordance with law.

7. As regards the complaint dated 13.04.2026, learned ASC submits on instructions that the local police has already collected relevant material including video footage, which is being examined for appropriate action. The same is being inquired into by an officer of ACP rank.

8. In view of above directions, learned Senior Counsel for petitioners, on instructions, submits that they are satisfied so far as this petition is concerned and the petition be accordingly disposed of.

9. Accordingly, the petition stands disposed of.