The Karnataka High Court has directed the reinstation of Cyriac Phillips' (also known as LiverDoc) X (formerly Twitter) account after he undertook to take down nine posts against Himalaya Wellness. The court's decision comes after Phillips claimed that the initial order for his account's takedown was ex-parte, meaning it was issued without a hearing.
The dispute between Cyriac Phillips and Himalaya Wellness emerged when the latter filed a complaint with the Karnataka High Court, alleging that Phillips had posted defamatory posts against its products and brand. As a result, the court issued an ex-parte
order directing X to take down Phillips' account.
Cyriac Phillips, who goes by the X handle 'theliverdr', is known for sharing his views and opinions on various subjects, including healthcare and wellness, immediately challenged the court's order. He argued that the order was issued without giving him an opportunity to present his side of the case.
In response to the court's order, Phillips sought the restoration of his X account and agreed to hide the contentious nine tweets concerning Himalaya Wellness. This compromise led to the Karnataka High Court's decision to order the restoration of his account.
The court has scheduled a further hearing for this case in November, indicating that the legal battle between Cyriac Phillips and Himalaya Wellness is far from over.
Philips, through videos and posts o the social media platform, had spoken several times against some products sold by Himalaya Wellness, especially its Liv.52 tablets. At the time of suspension, he had 1,85,300 followers.
This legal dispute has garnered significant attention on social media and in legal circles due to its implications for freedom of expression and the regulation of online content. Many observers are closely following the case as it raises important questions about the balance between protecting reputation and preserving the right to free speech in the digital age.
