Delhi High Court Orders Restoration Of '4PM' YouTube Channel, Directs Temporary Blocking Of 'Objectionable' Videos
Nupur Thapliyal
11 May 2026 8:37 PM IST
The Delhi High Court has recently ordered restoration of YouTube channel “4PM”, which was blocked pursuant to directions issued by the Centre citing concerns of national security, sovereignty and public order, subject to temporary suspension of 26 allegedly objectionable videos.
Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav passed the order while disposing of a plea filed by channel's editor, Sanjay Sharma and 4 PM News Network seeking restoration of the YouTube channel and all its content.
According to the plea, on March 12, YouTube informed the petitioners that it had received directions from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology under Rule 16(2) of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to block the channel in India.
Senior Advocate Akhil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, argued that neither the blocking order nor the reasons for blocking were supplied to them, thereby preventing them from effectively defending themselves before the authorities.
Opposing the plea, Additional Solicitor General Chetan Sharma submitted that the Inter-Departmental Committee (IDC) had already passed an order on March 24, 2026 after examining the material on the channel and finding that it should not be allowed to remain accessible to the public.
The Union Government argued that the content was detrimental to India's national security, sovereignty and public order.
The Court, however, noted that while approximately 50,000 videos had been uploaded on the channel, only 26 were alleged to be objectionable.
It also referred to earlier cases where similarly placed petitioners had been permitted to continue operating their channels pending proceedings before the IDC.
Balancing equities, the Court directed that the petitioners appear before the IDC, which would identify the allegedly offending material and grant sufficient opportunity to explain or justify the same.
The Court further ordered YouTube to temporarily block the allegedly objectionable videos and restore the channel thereafter.
The Court also directed that any recommendations made by the IDC to the Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, be supplied to the petitioners.
It clarified that the Ministry would remain free to monitor future content uploaded on the channel and take action in accordance with law if any objectionable material is posted.
Title: SANJAY SHARMA AND ANR v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS