Delhi High Court Orders Government to Review Sai Baba Content

The Delhi High Court announced Tuesday that it will issue a detailed order requiring the Indian central government to decide on the removal of inflammatory and derogatory online content regarding spiritual leader Shirdi Sai Baba. Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma stated the court's order will include a specific timeline for the government to reach a decision.

The legal proceedings follow a plea by the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust, which manages the Samadhi Temple in Shirdi. The Trust alleges that various articles and YouTube videos falsely portray Sai Baba as a murderer, rapist, British spy, and "Jihadi," claiming such content could provoke communal disharmony.

According to the Trust, Google LLC and YouTube failed to act on initial complaints. Subsequent appeals to the Grievance Appellate Committee and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology also provided no relief. Beyond the content removal, the Trust is challenging the current grievance redressal mechanism, arguing that URL limits and the general character of the system hinder the reporting of complex grievances.