The High Court of Karnataka dismissed a petition filed by Twitter, challenging several blocking orders issued by the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on the ground that it is ‘devoid of merits’.
Justice Krishna S. Dixit also imposed a cost of ₹50 lakh on Twitter citing its conduct of approaching the court without complying with the Central Government’s orders. The costs are to be paid within 45 days to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority. The court also said that ₹5,000 would have to be paid for every day that the payment is delayed.
‘In the above circumstances, the petition being devoid of merits is liable to be dismissed with exemplary cost and, accordingly, is dismissed. Petitioner is levied with exemplary cost of ₹50 lakh payable to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, within 45 days, and if delay is brooked, it will attract an additional of ₹5,000 per day’, the court stated.
