Exemption from Pre-Institution Mediation and Interim Injunction Issued for Preservation of Instagram Account
In a significant ruling, the Delhi High Court, presided over by Justice Jyoti Singh, delivered a judgment on July 9, 2026, granting urgent relief to Neeraj Joshi in his case against Meta Platforms, Inc. and others. The court allowed exemptions from certain procedural requirements and issued an ex parte ad interim injunction concerning Joshi's verified Instagram account, marking a crucial development in the sphere of digital rights and procedural law.
The judgment pertains to the case "Neeraj Joshi v. John Doe/Ashok Kumar," filed under CS(COMM) 713 of 2026. The plaintiff, Neeraj Joshi, represented by advocates Ms. Muskaan Garg and Mr. Himanshu Goyal, sought relief against the defendants, including Meta Platforms, Inc., represented by Mr. Varun Pathak, Mr. Vishesh Sharma, and Ms. Prasidhi Agrawal.
Key exemptions were granted to Joshi from filing complete addresses and particulars of certain defendants, citing the urgency of the matter. The court recognized the immediate nature of the relief sought, referencing judgments from both the Supreme Court and the Division Bench of the Delhi High Court, thus allowing an exemption from the Pre-Institution Mediation mandated under Section 12-A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015.
Furthermore, the court authorized Joshi to file additional documents later, in accordance with the provisions of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. This flexibility in procedural requirements reflects the court's understanding of the dynamic nature of legal proceedings in commercial disputes.
In a decisive move, Justice Singh issued an ex parte ad interim injunction under Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2, read with Section 151 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908. This injunction mandates Meta Platforms, Inc. to investigate the allegations concerning Joshi's Instagram account and ensure its preservation. The court also ordered Meta Platforms, Inc. to provide necessary BSI details and IP logs within three weeks, underscoring the importance of digital evidence in contemporary legal disputes.
The judgment is anticipated to set a precedent for handling urgent digital rights issues and procedural flexibility in commercial litigation. It highlights the judiciary's proactive stance in addressing modern challenges posed by social media platforms and digital identities.
Bottom line:-
Exemption granted to the Plaintiff from filing complete addresses of certain Defendants and from Pre-Institution Mediation considering the urgency of the case and in light of judgments of Supreme Court and Division Bench of Delhi High Court.
Statutory provision(s): Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Section 151, Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XI Rule 1(4) r/w Section 151, Commercial Courts Act, 2015 Section 12-A, Civil Procedure Code, 1908 Order XXXIX Rules 1 and 2 r/w Section 151
Neeraj Joshi v. John Doe/Ashok Kumar, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2941421
