Bombay High Court

META PLATFORMS INCversusPeople Interactive India Private Limited

Decided: 17 September 2026
Disposal: DISPOSED OFF

Holding

The court condoned the delay and permitted Defendant No.3 to file its written statement.

Summary

The plaintiff, People Interactive India Private Ltd., filed suit against Meta Platforms Inc. and others. Meta Platforms, as Defendant No.3, sought condonation of delay in filing its written statement. The plaintiff chose not to oppose the application, leaving the matter to the court. Justice Arif S. Doctor held that sufficient cause was shown, noting Meta's status as a US‑based platform, and ordered that the written statement be accepted. The interim application was therefore allowed, and the matter was stood over for further hearing on 18 September 2026.

Issues considered

Whether the delay in filing the written statement of Defendant No.3 can be condoned under the Civil Procedure Code
Whether sufficient cause for the delay has been demonstrated

Subjects

condonation of delay
written statement
interim application
Civil Procedure Code
platform liability

Judgment

                                         1/2                    43 IA-5576-2025.DOC




                 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY
                     ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION


                        INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 5576 OF 2025
                                           IN
                                SUIT NO. 18 OF 2025


Meta Platforms INC                               … Applicant
In the matter of :
People Interactive India Private Limited         … Plaintiff
               Vs.
Ms. Nibha Singh and Others                       … Defendants


                                       WITH
                     INTERIM APPLICATION NO. 6090 OF 2025
                                           IN
                               SUIT NO. 18 OF 2025
                                      _______
Mr. Rishabh Jaisani and Mr. Abhishek Mookherjee i/b Shardul Amarchand
Mangaldas for Applicant/Defendant No. 3.
Ms. Letishiya Chaturvedi i/b Veritas Legal for original Plaintiff.
                                      _______
                            CORAM          :     ARIF S. DOCTOR, J.
                            DATE           :     17th September, 2026.
P.C.


Interim Application No. 5576 of 2025 :


1.       Interim Application seeks condonation of delay in filing of Written


Statement of Defendant No. 3.




Sairaj
                                           2/2                   43 IA-5576-2025.DOC


2.       Learned counsel for the Plaintiff has taken a very fair stand and submits


that the Plaintiff does not wish to file reply affidavit to oppose the Interim


Application but leaves it to Court to ascertain whether sufficient cause has been


shown to have the delay condoned.


3.       Having heard learned counsel for the Applicant and having considered


paragraph no. 5 of the Interim Application, in my view, sufficient cause has


been shown. It cannot be lost sight of the fact that the Applicant is a platform on


which the material is published and is based in United States. In my view, the


substantive interest of justice would best be served if delay is condoned and


Defendant No. 3 is permitted to contest the suit on merits.


4.       Registry to accept the Written Statement accordingly.


5.       Interim Application is allowed.


Interim Application No. 6090 of 2025 :


6.       Not on Board. Upon mentioning, taken on Board.


7.       Stand over to 18th September, 2026.




                                                                 (ARIF S. DOCTOR, J.)




Sairaj

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