Bombay HC rejects Hindutva group’s plea against Facebook for blocking its pages

The Bombay High Court on Monday rejected Hindutva group Sanatan Sanstha’s petition against Facebook’s decision to block its pages, the Hindustan Times reported.

Facebook had blocked three pages belonging to the Goa-based group for the violation of its community standards, according to Deccan Herald. The organisation argued that this decision was arbitrary and high-handed.

The group claimed before the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court that Facebook violated its fundamental rights by blocking the pages.

But the social media giant said it had the right to disallow access to accounts that violated its standards. Facebook added that this was contractual dispute and must be taken up with the appropriate forum. The court agreed with the social media company’s submission.

“The dispute regarding blocking or unblocking of the petitioner’s Facebook pages, appears to be governed by the contractual relationship between the petitioner and respondents and normally purely contractual disputes between private parties cannot be adjudicated in proceedings under Article 226 of the Constitution of India,” the bench comprising Justices MS Sonak and MS Jawalkar said, according to the Hindustan Times.

The court said that Sanatan Sanstha’s petition was “sketchy and unclear”. “There is no case made out for grant of any declaratory relief in this petition,” the bench said….

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