Dharmasthala Burial Row: SC Declines To Gag Media From Covering Case

Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to impose a media blackout on coverage of the Dharmasthala mass burial case in Karnataka, saying such restrictions are granted only in exceptional circumstances.

A bench of Justices Rajesh Bindal and Manmohan directed a Karnataka trial court to re-examine a plea by the Dharmasthala Temple secretary seeking removal of allegedly defamatory material aimed at the temple’s managing family.

Petitioner Asked To Approach Trial Court

The apex court made it clear it was not taking a stand on the merits of the case. It asked the petitioner to present all relevant material to the trial court for fresh consideration.

On August 1, the Karnataka High Court had already struck down a gag order issued by a Bengaluru civil court, which had barred media coverage of the burial case.

Allegations Of Defamatory Content

The gag order was originally sought in connection with reports alleging the murders of women in Dharmasthala, Dakshina Kannada district.

Harshendra Kumar D, secretary of the Dharmasthala Temple management, claimed that around 8,000 YouTube channels had uploaded defamatory content against the temple. He had approached the Supreme Court for its removal.

Earlier SC Refusal In Related Petition

On July 23, a bench led by the Chief Justice had also declined to hear a petition by YouTube channel Third Eye, which challenged a sweeping order directing 390 media outlets to take down nearly 9,000 links and reports relating to the burial case.

That order, passed by a local court in a defamation suit filed by Kumar, targeted online reports about the brother of Dharamadhikari D Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala, despite no specific FIR naming the family or temple officials.

State Forms SIT For Probe

Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara has said that conclusions on the case must follow a thorough probe. The state government has set up a special investigation team to examine the allegations in detail.