Miss. Ramola. U. S. Vs Sri. B. I. Hemanth Kumar

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NC: 2025:KHC:45403 WP No. 33446 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR WRIT PETITION NO.33446 OF 2025 (GM-CPC)

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BETWEEN:

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MISS.RAMOLA. U. S. D/O SHANMUKHA AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS R/AT NO.661, ARJUNA APARTMENTS 46^TH CROSS ROAD, 3^RD BLOCK NEAR SHRIVARU COFFEE SHOP RAJAJINAGAR

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BENGALURU - 560 010.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI.SREEVATSA., SENIOR COUNSEL FOR SRI. MAHESH R D.,ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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Digitally signed by GAVRIBIDANUR SUBRAMANYA GUPTA SREENATH

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Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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SRI. B. I. HEMANTH KUMAR S/O INDU SHEKAR AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS R/AT NO.135, 2^ND MAIN, 2^ND CROSS, HEALTH LAYOUT ANNAPOORNESHWARI NAGAR NAGARABHAVI, BENGALURU - 560 091

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KANNADA PRABHA NEWS PAPER NO.1, QUEENS ROAD BENGALURU, 560001. REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF BENGALURU CITY.

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VIJAYAKARNATAKA NEWSPAPER HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT

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HC-KAR

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4, PAMPA MAHAKAVI ROAD CHAMARAJPET, OPP KANNADA SAHITYA PARISHAT, BENGALURU, 560018 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF BENGALURU CITY.

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VIJAYAVANI NEWSPAPER HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT 24, 1^ST AND 3^RD FLOOR SRI. SAIRAM TOWERS, 5^TH MAIN

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KP PUTTANNA CHETTY ROAD CHAMRAJPET BENGALURU, 560018 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF BENGALURU CITY.

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PRAJAVANI NEWSPAPER HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT 75, MG ROAD BENGALURU - 560018 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF BENGALURU CITY

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UDAYAVANI NEWSPAPER HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO. 202, II FLOOR, NORTH BLOCK, MANIPAL CENTRE, DICKENSON ROAD, BENGALURU, 560 042 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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SAMYUKTHA KARNATAKA HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO. 2, FIELD MARSHALL KM KARIAPPA ROAD, BENGALURU, 560 025 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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HOSADIGANTA HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO. 106, 5^TH MAIN, CHAMARAJPET, NEAR TR MILLS

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HC-KAR

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BENGALURU, 560018 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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VIJAYA KARNATAKA NO 4 KSCCF COMPOUND, PAMPA MAHAKAVI ROAD, CHAMRAJPET, BENGALURU, REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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EE SANJE 2/4, DR. RAJKUMAR ROAD BENGALURU - 560010 REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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SANJEVANI 11/12, HONEY HOUSE, QUEENS ROAD BENGALURU - 560 052 REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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INDU SANJE

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1236/4, 1ST FLOOR, KHB COLONY MAGADI ROAD BENGALURU -560 079 REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO.1 QUEENS ROAD BENGALURU-560 001. REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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TIMES OF INDIA NEWSPAPER HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO.88 S AND B TOWERS, M.G.ROAD BENGALURU-560 001 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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DECCAN CHRONICLE NEWSPAPER HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO.68 LAVELLE ROAD BENGALURU-560 001 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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HC-KAR

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THE HINDU NEWSPAPER HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO. 19 AND 21, BHAGAWAN MAHAVEER ROAD, INFANTRY ROAD BENGALURU -560 001 REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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DECCAN HERALD NEWSPAPER THE PRINTERS (MYSORE) PRIVATE LTD HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT NO. 75, MG ROAD, POST BOX NO. 5331 BENGALURU, 560 001, REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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BANGALORE MIRROR BENNETT, COLEMAN AND CO. LTD 9^TH FLOOR, DUPARC TRENETY NO.17, MG ROAD BENGALURU -560 001 REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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DOORDARSHAN DOORADARSHAN KENDRA NO.J.C NAGAR BENGALURU -560 006 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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VISTARA MEDIA PRIVATE LIMITED 1, 2 AND 4TH FLOOR, INDIAN EXPRESS BUILDING QUEENS ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001.

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PRAJA TV KANNADA NEWS SHEZAN LAVELLE, NO. 4^TH FLOOR, 15, WALTON ROAD SHANTHALA NAGAR ASHOK NAGAR BENGALURU-560 001

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ALSO AT C/O SAMPARKA INFO MEDIA PVT LTD, SHEZAN LAVELLE, 4^TH FLOOR NO. 15, NEAR UB CITY, WALTON ROAD, BENGALURU 560 001 REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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TV 9 KARNATAKA PRIVATE LIMITED 13/1, RHENIUS STREET, RICHMOND TOWN, BENGALURU 560025, REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHEF

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PUBLIC TV NEWS CHANNEL PRIVATE LIMITED 4^TH FLOOR, BMTC COMPLEX, YESHWANTHPURA] BENGALURU-560 022. REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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SUVARNA NEWS 24 X 7 HAVING THEIR ADDRESS AT 36, CRESCENT ROAD, OPP. MALLIGE HOSPITAL, BENGALURU-560001. REP BY THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

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JANASRI TV NO.351, 5^TH AND 6^TH FLOOR SALARPURIA TOWER 1, HOSUR ROAD

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KORAMANGLA

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BENGALURU-560 095. REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHEF

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KASTURI NEWS KASTURI MEDIA PVT. LTD., NO.12 AND 12/1, JOSCO JEWELLERY KASTURBA ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001.

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REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHEF

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POWER TV NEWS POWER SMART MEDIA, NO. 7, 11^TH MAIN MATHIKERE MAIN ROAD, YESHWANTHPUR,

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1^ST STAGE, 1^ST PHASE GOKULA EXTENSION, BENGALURU-560054 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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TV 5 NEWS PLOT NO, 129, RAILWAY PARALLEL ROAD, KUMARA PARK WEST, SESHADRIPURAM, BENGALURU, KARNATAKA 560020. REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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DIGHVIJAYA NEWS NO.3, LAL BAGH MAIN ROAD DODDAMAVALLI, HALASURU BENGALURU KARNATAKA 560 027 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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NEWS 18 KANNADA 4^TH FLOOR, SILVER JUBILEE BLOCK CSI COMPOUND, UNITY BUILDING 3^RD CROSS, MISSION ROAD BENGALURU KARNATAKA 560 027 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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RAJ TELEVISION NETWORK LTD THIMMAIAH ROAD, KAVERAPPA LAYOUT VASANTH NAGAR BENGALURU-560051 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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TV 1 NO. 7, 1ST MAIN ROAD, 1ST PHASE, GOKULA EXTENSION (MATTIKERE) BENGALURU-560054 REP. BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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UDAYA TV

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NO.MARAN TOWERS NO 09, BRUNTON ROAD. M.G.ROAD. BENGALURU-560 001

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REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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UDAYA VARTHEGALU NO. MARAN TOWERS NO 09, BRUNTON ROAD. M.G.ROAD BENGALURU 560 025 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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E TV KANNADA NEWS DIVISION 9/7 YAMUNA BAI ROAD BENGALURU -560 001. REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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SIRI KANNADA CHANNEL NO.134, NAGALAXMI TOWERS 2^ND FLOOR, 20^TH MAIN ROAD RAJAJINAGAR 5^TH BLOCK BENGALURU KARNATAKA 560010 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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JANATA TV 4^TH FLOOR, G. PULLAREDDY BUILDINGS, GREENLANDS ROAD, SOMAJIGUDA HYDERABAD-500016 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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NEWS FIRST KANNADA NO.31, TBR TOWER NEW MISSION ROAD 1^ST A CROSS, JC ROAD BENGALURU -560 027 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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M/S BTV NEWS CHANNEL PRIVATE LIMITED AT 32/1-2, CRESCENT TOWER HIGH GROUND, CRESTON ROAD BENGALURU 560 001, REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF

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NDTV NEWS NEW DELHI TELEVISION LIMITED. BENGALURU OFFICE AT NO.60/1 COLES ROAD, FRAZER TOWN

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NC: 2025:KHC:45403 WP No. 33446 of 2025

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BENGALURU - 560 001. REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF.

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TIMES NOW NEWS BENGALURU OFFICE AT NO.20 ASHA ENCLAVE, CHURCH STREET BENGALURU - 560 001.

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REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF.

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INDIA TODAY NEWS BENGALURU OFFICE AT NO.201-204 2^ND FLOOR, RICHMOND TOWERS NO.12, RICHMOND ROAD BENGALURU 560 025.

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REP BY THE EDITOR-IN CHIEF.

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AAJ TAK CHANNEL (TV TODAY) 12, 201, RICHMOND TOWN RICHARDS ROAD BENGALURU-560 025 REP BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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CNN NETWORK 18, THE MILLENIA, TOWER C 6^TH FLOOR, NO. 1AND 2 MURPHY ROAD, ULSOOR BENGALURU -560 008 REP BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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NDTV 60/1, COLES ROAD, FRAZER TOWN BENGALURU -560 003. REP BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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NEWS X SPENCER CASTLE, 2^ND FLOOR, 28 SPENCER ROAD, FRASER TOWN BENGALURU -560 005 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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ABP NEWS

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NEWS MEDIA CENTRE AND COMMUNICATION SERVICE PVT LTD 849, 2^ND FLOOR, 4^TH MAIN 12^TH CROSS, INDIRANAGAR I STAGE 15 BENGALURU 560 083 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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TIMES NOW TIMES GLOBAL BROADCASTING COMPANY LTD. 1ST FLOOR, S AND B TOWERS, 4/1 M.G. ROAD, TIMES OF INDIA BUILDING BENGALURU -560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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AAJTAK, 116/118 TV TODAY NETWORK LIMITED RICHMOND TOWER, RICHMOND ROAD BENGALURU -560 025 REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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ZEE NEWS, 14^TH FLOOR, 'A' WING MARATHON FUTUREX N M JOSHI MARO MUMBAI-400 013 MAHARASHTRA, INDIA LOWER PAREL REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF EDITOR

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PRESS TRUST OF INDIA (PTI), 17/2, NO. 28, SRI KRUPA, V.S. RAJU ROAD KUMARA PARK WEST BENGALURU -560 020 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE

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FACEBOOK INDIA ONLINE SERVICES PVT LTD A PRIVATE LIMITED INCORPORATED UNDER PROVISIONS OF COMPANIES ACT, 1956 AND HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE UNIT NOS. 1203, PLOT NO.C-G BLOCK

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BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX, BANDRA EAST. MUMBAI-400 051. ALSO AT- GURGAON, DLF HORIZON BUILDING, SECTOR 43, GURUGRAM HARYANA-122 022. REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE

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FACEBOOK INC. A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA HAVING ITS O/AT MUMBAI AT ONE BKC BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX, BANDRA (E) MUMBAI-400 051 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE

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YOUTUBE INDIA, A COMPANY INCORPORATED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AN HAVING O/AT WHISTLING WOOD, INTERNATIONAL, FILM CITY COMPLEX AAREY COLONY, GOREGAON (EAST) MUMBAI-400 065. REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE

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TWITTER COMMUNICATIONS INDIA PVT LTD A PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY INCORPORATED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF COMPANIES ACT, 1956 HAVING ITS O/AT C-20, G BLOCK NEAR MCA, BANDRA KURLA COMPLEX BANDRA (E) MUMBAI-400 051. ALSO AT- TEC QUTAB, LEVEL 1 CRESCENT BUILDING, LADO SARAI MEHRAULI NEW DELHI-110 030 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE

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HC-KAR

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THE PRINT 3^RD FLOOR, 9 AND 10 BAHADURSHAH ZAFAR MARG NEW DELHI-110002.

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THE WIRE FIRST FLOOR, 13 SHAHEED BHAGAT SINGH MARG GOLE MARKET NEW DELHI-110 001.

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PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU NO.111, 1^ST FLOOR, GANESH TOWER INFANTRY ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001

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…RESPONDENTS

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THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 227 FOF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE LEARNED XI ADDL. CITY CIVIL AND SESSIONS JUDGE, BENGALURU, TO FORTHWITH CONSIDER AND DISPOSE OF I.A. NO.6 FILED UNDER SECTION 151 OF THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, 1908, SEEKING CONTINUATION OF THE INTERIM ORDER DATED 24.11.2023, WITHIN A TIME FRAME TO BE FIXED BY THIS HONBLE COURT.

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR

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ORAL ORDER

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Heard learned senior counsel - Sri Sreevatsa on behalf of

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learned counsel - Sri Mahesh R.D. for petitioner.

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NC: 2025:KHC:45403 WP No. 33446 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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The reliefs that were sought in the present petition are

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as under:

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(i) Direct the Learned XI Addl. City Civil & Sessions Judge, Bengaluru, to forthwith consider and dispose of I.A. No.6 filed under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, seeking continuation of the Interim Order dated 24.11.2023 in OS 7598/23 vide Annexure-A,, within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon'ble Court;

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(ii) Issue such other writ, order or direction as deem fit in the circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity.

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This Court does not find any need to issue notice to the respondents as the only relief that is sought in the present writ petition is to direct the trial Court to dispose of I.A. No.6 in a time bound manner.

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Parties are referred to as per their ranking before the trial Court.

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It is the case of petitioner that he filed a suit for permanent prohibitory injunction in O.S. No.7598/2023 against the respondents. Alongwith the suit, an application came to be

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HC-KAR

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filed under Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure for an ad interim exparte order of Temporary Injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, servants or anybody claiming through them from telecasting/ broadcasting/publishing/disseminating/distributing anything in negative form referring to the plaintiff, which is defamatory in nature.

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The trial Court being satisfied with the submissions made by learned counsel for petitioner/plaintiff, granted an exparte ad-interim order of Temporary Injunction against defendant Nos.1 to 58. The said order reads as under:

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"The defendants No.1 to 58 are hereby restrained from telecasting or broadcasting or publishing any defamatory articles/statements, damaging the reputation of the plaintiff, till next date of hearing.

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However, this order would not come in the way of the defendants in publishing any true and authenticated news, without making any defamatory remarks against the plaintiff.

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Issue order of temporary injunction, emergent notice on I.A.No.1 and suit summons to

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HC-KAR

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the defendants No.1 to 58, after compliance of Order XXXIX Rule 3(a) of CPC, returnable by 17.01.2024."

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It is the contention of learned senior counsel appearing for petitioner that from the date of granting the interim order on 24.11.2023, the trial Court extended the said interim order from time to time till 27.1.2025, on the basis of the application for extension of the interim order filed by the plaintiff on every date of hearing. It is contended that on 27.1.2025 due to inadvertence, an application for extension of interim order dated 24.11.2023 was not filed and as such, the interim order dated 24.11.2023 was not extended since 27.1.2025 till date.

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Pursuant to which, the respondents have again started to telecast, broadcast and publish defamatory statements against the petitioner in the social media, copies of which are produced before the Court.

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It is contended that on 22.9.2025, the petitioner filed I.A. No.6 under section 151 of CPC seeking to continue the interim order dated 24.11.2023. The trial Court posted the said case for objections to I.A. No.6. Aggrieved by not

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HC-KAR

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extending the interim order till disposal of I.A. No.6, the petitioner/plaintiff is before this Court.

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It is the contention of learned senior counsel for petitioner that due to inadvertence, an application for extension of the interim order dated 24.11.2023 was not filed on 27.1.2025, due to which the interim order was not extended. He contends that the trial Court neither discontinued the interim order nor vacated the interim order. Under such circumstances, it is contended that the interim order continues to operate till it is recalled, vacated or modified or specifically mentioned by the Court that the same is not extended. In support of his contention, learned senior counsel relies on the decision of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of Centre of Excellence in Disaster Mitigation and Management, IIT, Roorkee, District Haridwar -vs- M/s S.K. Dynamics Pvt.

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Ltd., and others reported in 2016 SCC OnLine Utt 2234, wherein at paragraph-13 it is held as under:

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" 13 . On this controversy, it would be quite

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germane to refer the judgment of this very Court passed on 9.8.2016 in Civil Revision No.42/2016 & connected matters, wherein a number of precedents

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HC-KAR

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have been discussed, like Ram Abhilakh Misra v. Cane Commissioner, ARC 1998 (1) 526; Ashiq Ali v. Mohammad Shakeel, 1985 LCD 363 and Vishnu Dutt Sharma v. Regional Joint Director of Education, Agra, 2001 Supreme (ALL) 33, and it was held that time bound stay orders do not cease to be effective by efflux of time. The result in law is that time bound order has the same effect as an order till further orders of the Court. In other words, it continues to operate till it is recalled, vacated or modified or specifically mentioned by the Court "not extended."

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I am in agreement with the learned senior counsel for

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the petitioner/plaintiff that once the interim order is granted by the trial Court, unless the same is vacated by the Court or a specific order is made that it is not extended, the interim order continues to operate till it is recalled, vacated or modified or specifically mentioned by the Court that the same is not extended. It is always open to the trial Court to accept the objections of the respondents/defendants and hear both sides and extend/vacate/modify the interim order. Till then, the interim order ought to have been continued.

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However since the interim order is not extended from

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27.01.2025 till this order, any action by the respondents during this period cannot be contended to disobedience of the order.

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In view of the above, this Court deems it appropriate to pass the following:

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O R D E R

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i) The petition is allowed .

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ii) The trial Court shall continue the interim order granted on 24.11.2023 in O.S. No.7598/2023 till disposal of I.A. No.6 filed under Section 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, for extension of the interim order.

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iii) It is made clear that the petitioner/plaintiff will not have liberty to initiate any action against the respondents/defendants for disobedience of the interim order during the period of non-extension of the interim order dated 24.11.2023.

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