Bengaluru: In a significant development in the Dharmasthala mass burial case, the authorities of Dharmasthala, led by the chief administrators, have approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Karnataka High Court’s recent decision to quash a media gag order. The Supreme Court has accepted the urgent plea from the authorities of the Sri Manjunathaswamy Temple Institutions and has scheduled the case for hearing on August 8, 2025.Background of the Case:

The controversy arises from allegations made by a former sanitation worker who was employed at the Dharmasthala temple from 1995 to 2014. The worker claims he was coerced by temple supervisors to bury or burn hundreds of bodies, including those of women and children showing signs of sexual assault and violence. The worker filed a complaint with the Dharmasthala police on July 3, 2025, triggering widespread media coverage and public outrage. He fled the town in 2014 after an alleged assault on a family member and returned in 2024, driven by guilt, to provide evidence, including photographs of skeletal remains.Media Gag Order:YUISI ​​Sun Hat​​ for Men Women, Breathable Summer Hat for Travel, Hiking, Gardening, Sun Hats for Men​​ & Round Sun Cap for Hiking, Hats for Women​​ Indoor Outdoor Activities

In response to the media reports, the Dharmasthala authorities filed a defamation suit on July 18, 2025, in a Bengaluru civil court, seeking an ex-parte interim injunction to restrain 338 media entities and individuals from publishing or circulating "defamatory content" against them, their family, the temple, and its institutions. The court, presided over by Judge Vijay Kumar Rai, issued a gag order on the same day, mandating the removal of 8,842 online links, including 4,140 YouTube videos, 932 Facebook posts, 3,584 Instagram posts, 108 news articles, 37 Reddit posts, and 41 tweets. The order also prohibited further reporting on the case until the next hearing on August 5, 2025.14-Year-Old Boy’s Suicide Inspired by ‘Death Note’ Web Series: Parents, Be Vigilant!

The Dharmasthala case highlights the tension between press freedom and the right to reputation, with significant implications for public discourse and justice. The Supreme Court’s hearing on August 8, 2025, will be critical in determining whether the media gag order is reinstated or if reporting on the case can continue unrestricted.