Dharmasthala Burials : Temple Dharmadhikari's Brother Approaches Supreme Court Against HC Quashing Restraint Order On YouTube Channel

The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow the plea challenging the Karnataka High Court Order, which lifted the restraint order on a YouTube channel from publishing defamatory content against the Dharmasthala temple family in relation to the Dharmasthala Burial case.

The petitioner, Harshendra Kumar D, who is the Secretary of the Dharmasthala Temple Institution, has filed the SLP challenging the High Court Order. 

The counsel for Kumar mentioned before the bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justices SC Sharma and K Vinod Chandran that several YouTube channels were publishing allegedly defamatory content against the family running the Temple. He said : 

" 8000 YouTube Channels are running defamatory content against the administration of the Temple, therefore, mylords, I am requesting for tomorrow (to be listed)" 

The CJI, however, informed the counsel that the matter is already scheduled to be heard tomorrow. 

The Karnataka High Court on August 1 quashed the ex-parte gag order passed against the YouTube Channel 'Kudla Rampage' in connection with the Dharmasthala Burial case. 

Justice M Nagaprasanna observed that the trial court order did not mention any alleged defamatory content based on which it was passed, adding that the order granted a "mandatory sweeping injunction". It further said that the order was so broad that it "threatens" any voice against the respondent-plaintiff Harshendra Kumar D, the family or even the place Dharmasthala.

The High Court order came after a local court in Bengaluru had gagged various media houses and YouTube channels from publishing any "defamatory content" against respondent-plaintiff Harshendra Kumar D, the brother of Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade, his family members, institutions run by the family and Sri Manjunathaswamy temple, Dharmasthala, following which the channel approached the High Court. 

Case Details : HARSHENDRA KUMAR D vs. KUDLA RAMPAGE| Diary No. - 43657/2025