Delhi HC Orders Removal Of Social Media Posts Against UPSC Qualification Of Lok Sabha Om Birla's Daughter

The Delhi High Court also directed X Corp and Google Inc to remove alleged objectionable social media posts against the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday ruled the removal of social media posts against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's daughter Anjali Birla claiming that she cleared UPSC exam by indulging in corrupt practices and misusing her father's position.

The High Court also directed X Corp and Google Inc to remove alleged objectionable social media posts against the Indian Railway Personnel Service (IRPS) officer.

Justice Navin Chawla, in an interim order, also restrained unknown parties from directly or indirectly posting, circulating, communicating, tweeting or retweeting the defamatory content mentioned by Anjali Birla in her defamation suit.

The court also restrained John Doe (unknown entities) from directly or indirectly posting, publishing or circulating posts which was the subject matter in the case.

The Delhi HC, which said Birla has been able to make out a prima facie case in her favour, added the social media posts shall be removed by the intermediaries within 24 hours, and in case the plaintiff comes to know of any other similar posts, she shall inform X and Google about it.

“Having considered the contents of the suit and having heard the counsel for plaintiff, I am of the opinion that the plaintiff has been able to make out a prima facie case in her favour. Balance of convenience is also in favour of the plaintiff and against the defendants,” Justice Chawla said, according to PTI.

The IRPS officer's counsel submitted that Birla had appeared for the UPSC, Civil Services Exam (CSE), and she was selected in the consolidated reserve list of 2019. She joined Indian Railways as an IRPS officer.

During the hearing, senior advocate Rajiv Nayar, representing Birla, said that the social media tweets are defamatory and incorrect and made in a reckless manner only to tarnish the reputation of the plaintiff and they cannot be allowed to continue to be in circulation.

He contended that similar allegations had surfaced against her in 2021, but on a complaint by the officer, were investigated by several media houses and later the controversy died down.