Supreme Court Refuses Media Gag in Karnataka Case
The Supreme Court on Friday declined to impose a media gag on reporting the Dharmasthala mass burial case in Karnataka. A bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan said gag orders should be issued only in extremely rare cases.
The court directed the trial court to reconsider a plea by Dharmasthala Temple secretary Harshendra Kumar D. The plea seeks removal of online content alleged to be defamatory toward the family managing the temple.
The bench made it clear that it was not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case. It asked the petitioner to place all relevant material before the trial court for review.
Background to the Controversy
The Karnataka High Court had earlier, on August 1, set aside a Bengaluru civil court’s gag order restraining reportage on the burial case. That order was linked to reports on alleged murders of women in Dharmasthala, located in Dakshina Kannada district.
The petitioner’s lawyer claimed that about 8,000 YouTube channels were circulating defamatory material targeting the temple and its managing family. Kumar approached the Supreme Court after the gag order was lifted.
The burial case has drawn public attention due to its sensitive nature and the involvement of a prominent religious institution. Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara has stressed the need for a thorough investigation before drawing any conclusions.
Earlier Court Proceedings and Orders
On July 23, a separate bench led by the Chief Justice of India declined to hear a petition filed by YouTube channel Third Eye. That petition challenged a sweeping gag order from a local court which had restrained nearly 390 media houses from reporting on matters related to the brother of Dharamadhikari D Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala.
The order also directed removal of around 9,000 online links and news stories connected to the burial case. It had been passed as part of Kumar’s defamation suit alleging false and damaging online content.
Importantly, no FIR in the case has named Kumar or other temple authorities in connection with the alleged crimes.
Ongoing Investigation into Alleged Murders
The Karnataka government has formed a special investigation team (SIT) to look into the allegations of murders in Dharmasthala. The SIT is expected to examine both the factual claims and the online narratives that have emerged around the case.
Home Minister Parameshwara has urged the public to avoid speculation until the investigation concludes. He said that official findings would guide any further legal or administrative steps.
The court’s latest directive ensures media freedom to report developments, while allowing the trial court to assess whether any specific content crosses into defamation.