Court advises petitioner to utilize IT Rules, 2021 self-regulation mechanism for addressing content grievances.
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court on February 17, 2026, dismissed a writ petition filed by Raj Kumar against the continued streaming of the movie 'Lady Chatterley's Lover' on an online platform. The petitioner alleged that the movie contained obscene and offensive content that exceeded permissible limits under Indian law, causing distress to his family, including minor children.
The court, presided over by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, observed that although the petitioner had made several complaints to various authorities, he had not employed the three-tier self-regulation mechanism established under the Information Technology Act, 2000, and the Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021 (IT Rules, 2021).
During the hearing, counsel for the respondents highlighted a stay granted by the Bombay High Court on the three-tier self-regulation mechanism, which pertained exclusively to digital news portals. The respondents confirmed that OTT platforms, like the one in question, continued to adhere to these guidelines.
The court took note of the respondents' communication dated November 22, 2025, which addressed the petitioner's objections, asserting that the film's content complied with the IT Rules, 2021, and did not breach any applicable laws. It was suggested that the petitioner could escalate his grievances to the Grievance Redressal Board of the Digital Publishers Content Grievance Council, which is chaired by a former Supreme Court judge.
Justice Kaurav acknowledged these submissions and granted the petitioner the liberty to approach the Grievance Redressal Board to resolve his grievances. The court expressed confidence that the petitioner's concerns would be addressed if presented to the council, leading to a logical conclusion.
The judgment underscores the importance of utilizing existing regulatory mechanisms for content-related grievances, reaffirming the role of the IT Rules, 2021, in overseeing digital content on OTT platforms.
Bottom Line:
Writ petition regarding objectionable content in an online movie platform dismissed with liberty to petitioner to approach the Grievance Redressal Board under the IT Rules, 2021.
Statutory provision(s):
Information Technology Act, 2000, Information Technology Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code Rules, 2021
Raj Kumar v. Union of India, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2856891
