Karnataka HC orders restoration of ‘TheLiverDoc’ X account, with rider

The Karnataka High Court has modified a trial court order to grant the restoration of the X (Twitter) account of Dr Cyriac Abby Philips, better known as TheLiverDoc (@theliverdr).

Justice SG Pandit has, however, directed Philips, a hepatologist and clinician-scientist, to hide the allegedly offending tweets against Himalaya Wellness’s Liv52 until the matter is settled in court. Philips has given an undertaking that he will do so.

Philips had moved high court after his X account was suspended on an order by the Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge of Bengaluru on September 28. The order came on a defamation suit filed by the pharmaceutical and wellness giant, accusing Philips of defaming its products to promote those of rival companies Cipla and Alchem.

Judge DP Kumaraswamy passed an ex-parte order — one passed without all parties to a litigation being present in court — directing Philips to remove the allegedly offending posts.

Senior Counsel Aditya Sondhi, appearing for Philips in high court, however, made it clear that his client was not admitting that the tweets are defamatory. He suggested that the tweets can be hidden until the writ petition is being dealt with.

“I am not conceding (that tweets are defamatory); this Liv52 (Himalaya product) has been banned by the authorities in the US...,” Sondhi said, according to Bar and Bench.

The high court will hear the matter again in the second week of November. It has also issued a notice to X Corp.