Google operates as an intermediary under Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. This means it enjoys safe harbour protection — it is not liable for third-party content hosted on its platform unless it has actual knowledge of the unlawful nature of that content and fails to act.
Why Google Will Not Remove Content on Request
Submitting a standard Google content removal request rarely succeeds for defamation in India. Google's own policies require a court order or a clear violation of its Terms of Service before it will delist or remove URLs from Indian search results.
The Two Legal Routes That Work
The first route is a formal legal notice under the IT Act. Sections 66E, 67, and 67A address privacy violations and obscene content. For defamation specifically, Section 499 and 500 IPC remain applicable alongside the civil remedy under the Law of Torts.
The second and more effective route is a court order — either an injunction from the competent High Court or an ex parte interim injunction in urgent cases. Indian courts have consistently issued John Doe orders (Ashok Kumar orders) directing platforms to remove specific URLs even when the poster is anonymous.
What a Legal Notice to Google Must Contain
A valid legal notice sent to Google India's registered legal address (or Google LLC via their designated agent) must identify the exact URLs, state the specific defamatory content, invoke the applicable sections of the IT Act, and demand removal within a defined timeline — typically 15 to 30 days.
The notice must be sent by a practising advocate and ideally accompanied by evidence of harm: screenshots with timestamps, evidence of the content appearing in search results, and if possible, any measurable impact on business or reputation.
Court Orders: The Most Reliable Method
Delhi High Court, Bombay High Court, and Karnataka High Court have all passed orders directing Google to delist and remove URLs. The process involves filing a writ petition or a civil suit for defamation, applying for an interim injunction, and serving the court order on Google through their legal representative.
RepuLex has coordinated content removal through court orders in under 14 days in urgent cases where the client faced imminent business or personal harm. Speed depends on the jurisdiction and the evidence of irreparable harm presented.
What Happens After the Content is Removed
Removal from Google's index does not mean the original source page is deleted. The content may still be accessible via direct URL or on platforms not covered by the order. A comprehensive strategy includes removing the source, not just the Google listing.
RepuLex always pursues both — source removal through direct platform takedown and search de-indexing — so that the harmful content disappears from every access point, not just search results.
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.