Delhi High Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving parties or causes of action connected to the National Capital Territory. For online defamation, courts have held that the cause of action arises at the location where the defamatory content is viewed — meaning Delhi courts have jurisdiction over virtually any defamatory content accessible in Delhi.
Delhi HC's Jurisdiction Over Online Defamation
This has made Delhi HC one of the most active courts in India for online reputation litigation, with a well-developed body of case law on interim relief, platform compliance, and anonymous poster identification.
John Doe / Ashok Kumar Orders
Where the identity of the online poster is unknown, Delhi HC has consistently granted "John Doe" orders (referred to as Ashok Kumar orders in Indian practice). These orders direct platforms — Google, Meta, Twitter/X — to disclose the IP address and account details of the poster.
Once the poster is identified, service of summons and contempt proceedings can follow. Delhi HC has also ordered platforms to preserve all data related to an account pending final hearing, preventing the destruction of evidence.
Ex Parte Interim Injunctions
In urgent cases, Delhi HC grants ex parte interim injunctions — relief obtained without notice to the defendant — where the applicant demonstrates irreparable harm and a prima facie case. Several orders directing immediate takedown of URLs and de-indexing from Google have been passed ex parte within 48 hours of filing.
The standard applied is the three-pronged American Cynamid test: prima facie case, balance of convenience, and irreparable harm. Courts have held that reputational harm to a professional or business is inherently irreparable and difficult to quantify in money.
Platform Compliance with Delhi HC Orders
Google India and Google LLC have generally complied with Delhi HC orders, maintaining a dedicated legal response team. Meta and Twitter/X have at times delayed compliance, leading to contempt proceedings. Courts have imposed costs on platforms that fail to comply within the deadline specified in the order.
RepuLex works with a panel of advocates practising in Delhi HC and coordinates the drafting, filing, and follow-up to ensure court orders translate into actual content removal — not just paper victories.
RepuLex Editorial
RepuLex's editorial team comprises senior advocates, legal researchers, and ORM strategists with over a decade of combined experience in online reputation law in India.