Karnataka HC Quashes Twitter’s Petition Against Centre, Slaps Rs 50 Lakh Cost

Bengaluru: A petition filed by Twitter Inc, challenging several blocking and take-down orders issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Central government, was rejected by the Karnataka High Court on Friday.

The court stated that Twitter’s petition lacked merit for hearing. The single-judge bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit also imposed a cost of Rs 50 lakh on Twitter. The company has to pay it to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority within 45 days.

“I am convinced with contention of the Centre that they have powers to block tweets and block accounts,” the judge said while dismissing Twitter’s petition.

The Karnataka High Court order stated, “In the above circumstances this petition being devoid of merits is liable to be dismissed with exemplary costs and accordingly it is. Petitioner is levied with an exemplary cost of Rs 50 lakh payable to the Karnataka State Legal Service Authority, Bengaluru, within 45 days. If delay is brooked, it attracts an additional levy of Rs 5,000 per day.”